It expands the ways a library can do its cataloging by adding a new alternative to the current options. One of OCLC's purposes is to reduce the rate of rise in library costs. Old practices and procedures need to be re-engineered to allow for the creation and application of new methods appropriate to these new forms. At the same time, the old will not disappear. It is PromptCat's job to eliminate the nonessential from the old practices to free staff to concentrate on the new.
Discussions are under way with many others.
Our goal is to include every vendor of significance to our membership. It's possible that in the long term, PromptCat delivery of cataloging can be initiated by online ordering directly to publishers for some materials. We're using bundled pricing with PromptCat, where all cost items are bundled together. There will be a single charge for each PromptCat transaction, replacing current charges that include searching, setting a holding and first time use. Because libraries receive the records in different media, and these vary considerably in cost, an additional charge will be assessed for delivery, depending on what medium a library chooses.