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Library Final

The document discusses different types of library catalogues including card catalogues, book catalogues, COM/microform catalogues, and online public access catalogues. It outlines the definition, functions, advantages and disadvantages of each type of catalogue. Overall, the document provides information on how library catalogues work and the different format options available for organizing a library's collection.

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Quratulain Fatima
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33 views

Library Final

The document discusses different types of library catalogues including card catalogues, book catalogues, COM/microform catalogues, and online public access catalogues. It outlines the definition, functions, advantages and disadvantages of each type of catalogue. Overall, the document provides information on how library catalogues work and the different format options available for organizing a library's collection.

Uploaded by

Quratulain Fatima
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TOPIC:

LIBRARY CATALOGUE

PRESENTED BY:

MUQADUS NOOR

PRESENTED TO:

MAM FARIA MUNAWAR


LIBRARY CATALOGUE
Definition:
A library catalogue lists the materials held by the library. It also
indicates where each item is located in the collection. Depending on the
library, the description of items may be brief or very detailed. A library may
or may not include every item in its catalogue. The library may produce a
separate list or bibliographies of pamphlets, clippings or other special
materials.
Dr. S.R. Ranganathan,
“A list of document in a library or in a collection forming a portion of it .
Functions of a library catalogue
All library catalogues, regardless of format, inform the library user:

 Whether the library owns a particular copy of a particular item.


 Which works by a specific author are in the collection.
 Which editions of a particular work the library owns.
 What materials are available on a particular subject.
 About the following details for each item:
a) Author
b) Title
c) Imprint
d) Collation (number of pages, whether the item has illustrations, etc.)
e) Subject headings
f) Location in the collection

Types Of Library Catalogues

The four types of library catalogues


 Card catalogue.
 Book catalogue.
 COM catalogue.
 On-line Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
Card Catalogue

Defination:
In card catalogue entries for books are prepared on standard size cards
(12.5 cm x 7.5 cm. or 5” x 7”)
which are placed in desired order in a catalogue cabinet. In this form one
entry is prepared on one card. Therefore, each card is a unit i.e. on one
card only entry is prepared. Each card can be accommodated at and
placed or removed from any place. Such cards may be plain or ruled. The
card is punched (one hold) half inch above the bottom. Through this hole a
thin rod of iron is passed in the catalogue cabinet so that the card may not
automatically leave its place or be removed easily.
Advantages of Card Catalogue
Up-to-dateness and flexibility:

Card catalogue has immense capacity of being up-to-dated and is also


flexible to great extent. New entries can be accommodated in it at
appropriate place without disturbing the existing arrangement because
each card is an independent unit in itself.

Durability and Economy: 

Card catalogue is economical in preparation and maintenance. It is also


capable of bearing heavy use for a longer period without losing its physical
features. 

Accessibility and Expansibility:

Card catalogue is fully expansible i.e. it can grow in size without any
inconvenience with the growth of the collection of the library. As and when
new books are acquired, any number or entries prepared to represent
those books can be accommodated in the catalogue.

Utility with reference to centralized and cooperative cataloguing: 


This form of catalogue is suitable for centralized and cooperative
cataloguing. 

Disadvantages of Card Catalogue


Space Eater: 
Card catalogue eats space. It is its biggest demerits. Card Cabinet in
which card are kept occupies much space and additional space is also
required to facilitate its consultation by readers. In small and medium sized
libraries (with book stock of less than five lacks) it may it create much
problem but in bigger libraries it becomes a problem to find space to
accommodate it .

Difficult to transport: 

Card Catalogue is not easily portable due to its size and bulk. 

Less protected:

Card catalogue is less protected; there are opportunities of card being


removed easily. Although a thin iron rod passes through it, if someone
intentionally wants to remove a card he can do so without much effort and
the misdeed may not come to the notice of library staff easily.

Book catalogues
Defination:

A book catalogue lists bibliographic records in alphabetical order by


various entries, or by classification number. There may be more than one
record on each page. The pages are then bound into a cover, forming a
book.

Advantages Book Catalogue

Ease of use:

A book catalogue is like using a dictionary and requires little instruction in


use. A whole page of entries can be scanned at once.

Size:
It is compact in size, allowing it to be carried anywhere within the library.

Costs:

The first copy is the most expensive to produce. If the book catalogue is
not too large, many copies can be made and distributed throughout the
library, to classrooms, offices or other branch libraries.

Disadvantages Book Catalogue

Ease of use:

Unless multiple copies are made, there is a queuing problem. Only one
person can use the catalogue at a time.

Flexibility and currency:

Bibliographic records for new materials cannot be inserted. A whole new


book catalogue must be produced or a supplement created. Supplements
require the library patron to search in at least two alphabetic sequences for
each item.

COM Or Microform catalogues


Defination:

There are two types of microform catalogues. Some libraries have


photographed each catalogue card in alphabetical sequence then
transferred these images onto microform or microfiche. When bibliographic
records were first available in electronic format, high-speed cameras would
photograph screen images and these images would be transferred onto
microform. These are known as COM or computer output microform
catalogues.
Advantages of COM or Microform catalogue

Ease of use:

Like the book catalogue, many records can be scanned at one time.
Indexes can provide easy access to a specific alphabetic sequence.
Headings at the top of the fiche indicate the first entry on each fiche and
each fiche is numbered sequentially for easy filing.

Size:

Microfiche or microfilm takes up very little storage space and can store
many records on one fiche or film.

Costs:

Multiple copies are very inexpensive to produce.

Disadvantages of COM or Microform catalogue

Ease of use:

Microform is an extremely unpopular format. Equipment is required to


use the catalogue. Fiche can be easily misfiled or placed one behind
another in the holders. Library users are frustrated when the fiche they
require is missing. Many copies of the catalogue and machines are
required to avoid problems with queuing.

Flexibility and currency:

New bibliographic records can not be inserted, nor can records for lost
items be deleted. Like the book catalogue, the entire catalogue must be
reproduced to incorporate changes. Most libraries choose to produce
supplements.

Costs:
The first copy of the microform catalogue is very expensive to produce.
There are also maintenance costs involved with the equipment.

Online Public Access Catalogs


Defination:

An online public access catalog, also known as OPAC, is an online


database of all the resources and materials held by a particular library. It's
a card catalog, of sorts, that's accessed via computer or other electronic
device.Online public access catalogs could potentially replace the old
fashioned card catalog as a means of helping library visitors locate the
resources they seek. Users are able to search the database electronically,
which can provide them with a quicker and more thorough means of
locating necessary information, resources, books, literature, or other
materials

Advantages of on-line public access catalogue

Flexibility and currency:

OPACs are easily updated. As soon as items are entered, they can be
indexed to become accessible. Some systems index new items the
moment they are entered. Records are also easily removed from the
database.

Ease of use:

New GUI technology makes OPACs very user-friendly. OPACs offer


sophisticated methods of searching for materials. Users can combine terms
such as “Shields” in the author field and “diaries” in the title field, limit
searches to a particular date range or format. If the OPAC is networked,
terminals can be installed throughout the school, university, public library or
branches of a library, making catalogues accessible from individual’s
desktops.

Size:
Terminals can take up much less space than bulky card catalogues.
Patrons do not have to be physically in the building to access the library’s
catalogue.

Disadvantages of On-line public access catalogue

Ease of use:

Not all OPAC user interfaces are created equal. Some are menu-driven,
intuitive and easy to use. Others may not be user-friendly at all. It would
then require staff time to train library patrons. Several terminals would be
necessary to avoid line ups.

Costs:

Depending on the size of the library, the type of computer hardware,


software and networking cable required plus the retrospective conversion
of existing bibliographic records in the library’s manual catalogue, the cost
can be extremely high.

Design:

If the system is poorly designed, it may require undue switching back


and forth between screens to see detailed records. This can be tedious and
frustrating for the user.

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