• Collections & Technical Services
• November 2006
• Issue: 207

OCLC Number Expansion - Technical Bulletin 253

Currently OCLC numbers consist of the prefix ocm followed by 8 digits. Starting withWorldCat record numbered 100 million, records will consist of prefix ocn followed by 9 digits.

Systems and processes were planned to be ready by November 1, 2006. With the assignment of OCLC bibliographic record 100000000, the number format will change to the new prefix (ocn) and a nine-digit number. Records numbered 99999999 and under will retain the ocm prefix, be eight digits in length, and end with a trailing space.

The 9-digit OCLC numbers will not occur until they have assigned the last of the 8-digit ones. OCLC does not have an estimated date when that might happen; although it is not likely before the end of the calendar year.

OCLC is providing information and testing files to local system vendors.

See Technical Bulletin 253 for more information: http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/tb/253/default.htm .