CATALOGING
The task of the cataloger is to establish bibliographic control of the material that is collected in the library. Without an organization scheme our patrons would be unable to locate the information that they need. Bibliographic control ensures that we 'save the time of the reader.'
Information about the items contained in the library's collection is recorded in a bibliographic record. Formerly each card in the library was a bibliographic record for an individual item. We put these cards together into a file that is called a catalog, thus the term cataloger. Early in the history of libraries each library wrote their bibliographic record in their own way.
As libraries began to share material, it became evident that they needed to standardize the way they wrote their bibliographic records. Standardization helps patrons as they move from one library to another. It also makes it possible for libraries to cooperate and save on cataloging by sharing cataloging information.
The card catalog flourished from the late 19th century, however in 1970 because of the cost of maintaining the card catalog and physical deterioration of the cards many large research libraries began to look for options to the card catalog. In 1981 the Library of Congress announced that it was closing its card catalog and would rely on an automated catalog.
WEB LINKS
University Cataloging Departments:
School Library Cataloging:
Dewey Decimal Classification:
Authority Control:
Library Catalogs on the Web:
World Wide Web Classification:
Networks:
Vendors:
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Original Content by Carolyn Funes
Last updated: Oct. 2001