Question

OCLC increased the length of the OCLC Control Number (OCN) after reaching one billion records. Does Alma support the new ten digit OCLC number format?

Answer

Alma already supports the expanded OCLC numbers. Alma does not use any validation routine on the contents of the OCLC number. The 035 is a variable-length field. The expansion of the OCLC number from nine to ten digits has no impact on the functionality of Alma. 

• Article last edited: 28-Aug-2017