Our library has been benefited for a long time by downloading western languages bibliographic records from OCLC to do our copy cataloguing. We have enjoyed the convenience and hoped that we would also be able to contribute our records to the database and participate in the global resources sharing. With the knowledge that most of our Chinese cataloguing is original, we decided last year to contribute records to OCLC and make our Chinese cataloguing records available for libraries worldwide. We began our plan in May 1999, after series of trials and testing, we resolved most of the cataloguing issue and were excited to find a solution to the major problem, Chinese character conversion.

This year, we estimate we can contribute approximate 1200 to 1400 Chinese records per month. With each record contributed, the Library will get an incentive credit of US$2.50. Back in the 1970's, it was a credit of one US dollar for each card we sent to the Library of Congress. Having mentioned so much about Chinese cataloguing, our contribution, however, is not limited to Chinese language materials. We are also contributing western language titles, especially locally published and educational audio-visual materials. Meanwhile, we are still monitoring the contribution process, to assure the quality of the contributed records and maintain an efficient operation. -- Maria Lau, Head of Cataloguing Dept., ULS.