Library collections house a wide variety of materials on many different topics and in many different formats. The challenge in making these things available for the use by library patrons is letting those patrons know what is in the library collection. This is the reason for having a library catalog.
Cataloging is the process followed by librarians to create the bibliographic record. To perform catalog work means to record details about a published item, such as, title, author, publisher, date, physical description, subject headings, edition, and call number. A set of standardized rules for cataloging and transcribing information about library materials governs the cataloging process. Catalog librarians assign subject headings to assist the public in finding materials on a particular subject when an author or title is not known. Libraries strive for consistency in subject heading use so that all items with the same subject will be listed together in the library catalog. To assist library customers in locating materials within the library, catalogers assign call numbers which are printed on labels that are attached to individual materials.
Physical card catalogs of old have been replaced by newer electronic versions. A variety of computer software packages are available to produce catalog records. These computer programs help libraries develop online catalogs for local use, and in addition make their catalogs available to remote users via the World Wide Web. In order for the computer to interpret the information found in a cataloging record, libraries follow a standard professional practice called MARC record cataloging. MARC is an acronym for Machine-Readable Cataloging Record. The official rules and documentation for cataloging in MARC format is compiled by the Library of Congress.
When library materials are cataloged in a careful and complete manner, access is provided for the library patrons and staff to all sources of information on a particular topic, by a particular author, or in a particular format, that the library possesses. The better the access, the more use the collection receives, and the more satisfied the patron is in his or her search for information in the library.
To learn more about the national resources used pertaining to library cataloging, visit the cataloging links section.
To see what local methodologies are employed by Northern Waters libraries, visit the cataloging methods section.
To find out what educational opportunities exist realted to library cataloging, visit the web cataloging course section.