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    Library Catalogue – Definition of Library Catalogue

    LISBDNETWORKBy Updated:21 Comments4 Mins Read

    A library catalogue is a fundamental tool for any library as it provides users with the means to locate and access the resources available in the library. It is a comprehensive and organized listing of books, journals, periodicals, and other resources held in the library’s collection. A well-designed library catalogue allows users to search for resources by various criteria, such as author, title, subject, or keyword, making it easier to find and retrieve the desired item. The catalogue also provides valuable information about each resource, such as its location, availability, and call number, which assists users in locating the item on the library shelves. In this way, a library catalogue plays a crucial role in facilitating the research and learning needs of library patrons, enhancing the value and effectiveness of the library’s resources.

    What is Library Catalogue?

    A library catalogue is a tool libraries use to organize and provide access to their collection of books, journals, multimedia resources, and other materials. The catalogue serves as a searchable index of the library’s holdings, providing users with a means of locating specific items, discovering new resources, and exploring related topics.

    The term Library Catalogue has been formed from The Greek phrase “katálogos.” “Katálogos” is a Greek word that means “a list” or “a register.” The word has historical roots and was used in ancient Greece to refer to a list of events, people, or things. Later, the term evolved to include various forms of lists and registers, such as genealogies, inventories, and bibliographies.
    A library catalogue is a list of books and other graphic material in a library arranged according to a recognized order and containing specific items of bibliographical information for identification and location of the material catalogued.
    Definitions of library catalogue:
    Dr. S.R. Ranganathan has defined the library catalogue as involving three aspects.
    1. The list of;
    2. Documents, -in a;
    3. Library (single library or group of libraries).

    Dr. S.R. Ranganathan, “A list of document in a library or in a collection forming a portion of it”.

    ALA Glossary of Library Terms, “Catalogue is a list of books, maps etc. arranged according to some defined plane”.

    James Duff  Brown, “Catalogue is an explanatory logical arranged inventory and key to the books and there content and is to the books in a particular library”.

    C.A Cutter, “A library catalogue is a list of books which is arranged on some definite plan”.

     Margaret Maan, “A catalogue is a record of the material in library”.

    L. Akers, “A catalogue is a record of the material in a library”.

    L. Jalley, “A catalogue is a communication”.

    Overall, the library catalogue is an essential tool for both library staff and users. It helps librarians manage their collections, track borrowing and circulation patterns, and make informed decisions about future acquisitions. For users, the catalogue provides a means of discovering and accessing a wealth of information and resources, whether they are looking for a specific item or simply exploring a particular topic.

    Functions of the Library Catalogue:

    • To record each work in a library by author, translator, editor, compiler, series or by corporate body as author under which entries are made and a reader likely to search for a book.
    • To arrange author entries in such a way then a reader fiend all the work of an author together. (In a dictionary catalogue).
    • To arrange subject entries so that light topic will foll together and related topic will be correlated.
    • To record title of works when necessary i.e. if it is a fiction or a popular work or if it is written by more than three author or if it a completed or edited work.
    • To employ cross reference i.e. ‘see’ and ‘see also’ by which a reader may be guide  from one entry or topic to author.
    • To provide description of each book by mentioning author, title, edition, imprint, collection, bibliography and note when necessary.
    • To list the call number (Class no+Author mark) by which books may be located or obtained.
    • To work of as a book selection tool for other comparatively new or small library.
    • To help the research workers and readers know what materials are available on a given subject in the library.

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