By James Speed Hensinger
BCR and OCLC are introducing two tools to help librarians do local bibliographic
instruction with the OCLC FirstSearch service. OCLC now has a FirstSearch
Bibliographic Instruction (BI) web site (www.oclc.org/oclc/fsbi/index.htm). And BCR
has worked with OCLC to obtain special authorization numbers for you to use in
accessing FirstSearch during training sessions.
The regular access authorization numbers limit the number of users who can access
FirstSearch simultaneously. This can be a problem, particularly for libraries in the
consortia-like Colorado/Kansas FirstSearch program, which has a total of 75 access
ports. That means that no more than 75 users in both states can be logged on to
FirstSearch at the same time. This presents a real problem when you want to log on
an entire computer lab for Bibliographic Instruction. BCR's special authorization
numbers are limited to 30, but you can use all 30 in your class without impacting
other consortia members' access.
The passwords change weekly. To obtain FirstSearch special authorization numbers,
contact BCR's Deb Pruitt. Be prepared to provide her with
information about your planned use, including:
Please make use of OCLC's new FirstSearch Bibliographic Instruction web site as a
resource for your classes. OCLC is introducing the web site in two phases. Currently,
the site features links to existing FirstSearch publications and documentation useful for
bibliographic instruction, templates for producing customized materials, links to other
bibliographic instruction sites and a link to the FirstSearch Guided Tour. The second
phase will provide links to training exercises, sample searches and electronic style
sheets. You will also be able to download a demo to use if your
library's web site or FirstSearch is temporarily unavailable. The site also asks for
librarians to provide suggestions for improvement.
These BI authorization numbers are free.