The Availability of Cataloging copy in the OCLC Database

A sixteen-week longitudinal study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of OCLC as a source of cataloging data and to optimize the timing of searches for cataloging copy for various categories of materials. The findings indicated a high rate of success and, further, suggested that for many types of materials a holding pattern might be unnecessary. A midsized research library should be able to clear about half of its monographic receipts immediately, if it is willing to accept CIP copy. For materials not searched immediately, or for subsequent searches of materials not cataloged at once, the data may be used to determine the best timing and frequency of searches.