Introduction to Cataloging

Catalogs are commonly used in the libraries.

These catalogs are called library catalogs.
Library catalogs are full of information
regarding the resources that can be found
inside the library. The information contained in
the catalogs is known as the bibliographic
record. Now if you want to know the true
essence of catalog, you have to understand how
they are created or presented. This is where the
cataloging process comes to light.
 Outline
 Importance of cataloging and
classification

 What is cataloging?

 The library catalogs: types,

parts, functions and
arrangement 
 Importance of cataloging
and classification
Provide consistency within a single
library
A description and headings created by one
cataloger need to be consistent with a
description and headings created by another
cataloger or at a different time.
 Provide consistency between
libraries
In order to share catalog records and thus
reduce costs in a centralized or
cooperative library system, libraries
must use an agreed set of cataloging
rules.
 Reduce time involved in cataloging
If codes did not exist, catalogers would
have start from scratch with every
work they catalog.

 Provide ease of use for library users

using more than one library
Cutter says “the convenience of the
public is always to be set before that of
the cataloger”
 Ensure that the purposes of the
catalog are achieved.
the catalog must enable users to find
what they need efficiently and reliably
 What is Cataloging?
The process of creating bibliographic
records in a catalog according to a set of
standards.
the process of preparing a bibliographic
record by:
– describing a work
– assigning subject headings
– access points, and
– call number
 Kinds of
Cataloging
 Original cataloging
 the process of creating a
bibliographic record for the first
time, especially without reference to
other records for the same
information package .
 the preparation of cataloging record
without the assistance of outside
cataloging agencies.
 Copy cataloging
 The bibliographic data and other data is
copied from an existing record in the
book’s CIP (Cataloging-in Publication)
data or in online public access catalog
(such as Library of Congress)
 the process of adapting an existing
cataloging record prepared by another
library or agency.
CIP (Cataloging-in-publication)
CIP records are created before publication
when the items they represent are not yet
complete.
CIP records usually appear on the back of
the title page (called the verso).
Catalogers should also be aware of the
differences in the CIP produced by different
national libraries.
CIP (Cataloging-in-publication)
Catalogers should be particularly careful in
checking the CIP for older book that are
being added to the collection because rules
for descriptive cataloging, subject heading
terms, classification numbers may have
changed since the books were published.
CIP records are provided by National
libraries, such as the Library and Archives
Canada (LAC), the British Library (BL), and
the Library of Congress (LC)
Local libraries can have one of three
policies on CIP:

1. Accept and use CIP records as

given
This is the cheapest method, but
also that one that produces a less
reliable catalog.
2. Use CIP after checking the items
in hand and making corrections
when necessary.
Results to a more accurate catalog

3. Ignore CIP, generally because

other sources of bibliographic
information are available.
 If a complete and accurate bibliographic record is
available from a recognized source, the third
decision might be the best choice.
 Example of CIP
Information from verso:
Cooperative Cataloging
 The working together of independent
institutions to share network
membership or to create cataloging
that can be used by others.

 Is an association of libraries with the

main purpose of sharing resources,
including cataloging information.
Outsourcing/Contract Cataloging

Involves contracting with vendors outside

the library to do some of the cataloging for
the library

A management technique whereby some

activities formerly conducted in house, are
contracted out for completion by a
contracting agency.
 What is a Catalog?
is an organized set of bibliographic
records that represent the holdings of a
particular collection and/or resources
accessible in a particular location.
A list of library materials contained in a
collection, a library, or group of
libraries, organized according to some
definite plan.
 Union Catalogs
catalogs that represent the
holdings of more than one
library, as libraries form
consortiums and otherwise link
their catalogs for the purpose of
interlibrary sharing.
Types of
Catalog
 Book Catalog
A catalog in which surrogate
records are printed on pages that are
bound into book form.
Entries can be found quickly in the
book catalogs and it is compact,
easy to store, and easy to handle;
however it lacks flexibility.
 Book Catalog
Is expensive to prepare unless numerous
copies of the catalogs are required.
Library systems that need multiple
copies will find the book catalog less
than the card catalog.
e.g.
Catalog of Books Represented by Library of
Congress Printed Cards known after 1956 as
the National Union Catalog
 Card Catalog
A catalog in which every entry is
printed or typed on a card (usually
3”x5”) and placed in a file drawer in
a particular order (usually
alphabetical or classified order)
Easy to prepare and relatively
inexpensive
 Sheaf Catalog
A loose-leaf binder format
providing some of the convenience
of the book. Usually each record is
on a separate slip of paper. There
may be a number of records on each
slip.
 Microform Catalog
Is a variant of the book catalog.
It contains cataloging records in
micro-image and requires the use
of microform reader for viewing.

It is compact and easy to store.

 Online Catalog
A catalog in which bibliographic
records are encoded for
computer display and are stored
in computer memory. The most
flexible and current.
Often referred to as an Online
Public Access Catalog (OPAC)
Parts of a Catalog
Arrangement of
Entries in a
Catalog
 Classified Catalogs

A catalog arranged or displayed in the

order of symbols, numbers, or other
notations that represent the various
subjects or aspects of subjects
covered by the information
packages housed in the institution.
 Classified Catalogs
The entries are arranged according to a
chosen system of classification, resulting in
subject collocation.
A form of catalog arrangement that was
popular in the 19th century.
As a working tool for catalogers, a variant of
the classified catalog exist in the form of the
shelflist.
 Alphabetical Catalogs
A catalog with entries arranged or
displayed in alphabetical order rather
than according to the symbolic notation
of a classification.
Entries are organized in alphabetical
sequence, with author, title, subject
headings interfiled.
 Two traditional
arrangement of
Alphabetical Catalogs
 Dictionary Catalog
a catalog arranged or
displayed in alphabetical
order with entries for names,
titles, and subjects all
intermixed.
 Divided Catalog
A catalog in which different types of entries are
arranged or displayed in separate files or displays.
Usually the subject entries are separated from other
entries, and sometimes titles are also separated.
Order is usually alphabetical in each section, but the
subject section may be in classified order.
Online catalogs are actually divided catalogs when
authors, titles, and subjects are searched and
displayed separately.
Types of Card Catalog
Entries
 Shelf-list Card
A shelf list card is a duplicate of the main
entry card with the addition of information
which is useful to the library staff rather than
to the patron. This information includes cost,
location (for example, a branch in a multi-
branch system), number of copies owned, the
date of acquisition and the source.
 Shelf-list Card
The shelf list is really a master record
of what materials the library owns. It is
called the shelf list because the order of
the cards in the drawer corresponds to
the order of the books on the shelves.
This arrangement facilitates taking an
inventory of the collection.
 Shelf-list Card
The shelf list is filed separately
from the other cards in the card set.
Generally the shelf list cards are
kept in a card file in the technical
processing section of the library.
 Example of a Shelf-list Card

CIR
658.4092 Taylor, Harold L.
T21m Making time work for you : a
1981 guidebook to effective & productive
time management / Harold L. Taylor. –
Don Mills, Ont. : General Pub., ©1981.
Php301.00 160 pages. : illustrations
12/05/06
1456 ISBN 0773600914 (P105.25)

1.Time management. 2.Executives--

Time management. I. Title.
 Main Entry Card
The main entry card contains a
complete bibliographic description, that
is, all the information needed to identify
the work. The bottom third of the card
contains the tracings, that is, the list of
all the other access points which have
been provided for the particular book.
 Example of an Author Main
Entry Card
CIR
658.4092 Taylor, Harold L.
T21m Making time work for you : a
1981 guidebook to effective & productive
time management / Harold L. Taylor. –
Don Mills, Ont. : General Pub., ©1981.
160 pages. : illustrations

ISBN 0773600914 (P105.25)

1.Time management. 2.Executives--

Time management. I. Title.
 Example of a Title Main Entry
Card
CIR
971.0647 This is my home : a celebration of
T34 Canada / Paul Belserne and Robin
1981 Ledky, editors. -- Vancouver :
Creative House/Douglas & McIntyre,
©1986.
127 pages : color illustrations ; 24 cm

Includes index
ISBN 0888945175

1. Canada Day--Pictoral works.

2. Canada--Description and travel—
1981--Views. I. Belserene, Paul, editor.
II. Ledky, Robin, editor.
 Title Entry Card
The title card is created to provide
access by title to the item and is written
on the first line of the card. Tracings,
that is, the list of all the other access
points are removed.
Tracings are only present in the shelf-
list card and main entry cards.
 Example of a Title Card

CIR Making time work for you

658.4092 Taylor, Harold L.
T21m Making time work for you : a
1981 guidebook to effective & productive
time management / Harold L. Taylor. –
Don Mills, Ont. : General Pub., ©1981.
160 pages : illustrations

ISBN 0773600914 (P105.25)

 Subject Entry Card
Entries are also created to provide access by
subject to the item. The heading or headings
which describe the subject are not chosen at
random. Rather, to ensure consistency in a
given library and among libraries, subject
headings are selected from standard lists such
as the Library of Congress Subject
Headings, Sears List Subject Headings.
 Subject Entry Card
In a card catalog, the subject heading
assigned to the item is added to a duplicate of
the main entry card at the very top line of the
card. This subject heading is usually printed
in capital letters so that it will be easily
identified as a subject access point.
 Example of a Subject Card

CIR TIME MANAGEMENT

658.4092 Taylor, Harold L.
T21m Making time work for you : a
1981 guidebook to effective & productive
time management / Harold L. Taylor. –
Don Mills, Ont. : General Pub., ©1981.
160 pages : illustrations

ISBN 0773600914 (P105.25)

 Evaluation
Visit the library and browse the card catalog

- What type of arrangement does the UM LIC

follow in filing their catalog cards?
- Enumerate available types of catalogs used by
the UM LIC
- Copy examples of catalog entries (Author
card, title card and subject card)
 References
Evans, G.E., Intner, S.S. & Weihs, J. (2011). Introduction to
technical services. (8th ed.). Santa Barbara, California :
Libraries Unlimited.
 
Taylor, A. G. (2006). Introduction to cataloging and
classification. (10th ed.) Westport, Connecticut : Libraries
Unlimited.