How to make professional Catalog

CATALOGUING

Meaning Definition and Importance
Objective and Functions
Types of Catalogs
Qualities of Good Catalogue

CATALOGUE

MEANING OF CATALOGUE

The word catalog has been derived from a Greek word, Katalogas. Kata means by or according to and, log as means order, or system or reason. So catalog means a list arranged according to some system or logic. There are many kinds of records such as Catalogue of Departmental Store, which lists the item contained in the store with their details and prices. Similarly, Book Seller's, Catalog lists the books included in the Book shop, and the library Catalog lists the documents contained in the Library.

DEFINITION OF CATALOGUE

The library catalog has been defined as a ''List of Documents contained in a library or a group of libraries and arranged in a systematic order ''.The library catalog involves three basic aspects:

(i) Documents

(ii) Presence of Documents in Library

(iii) Arrangement according to a logical order

Documents:

Documents here mean any media which can preserve information, and this information can be retrieved whenever required. It includes books, periodicals, films, microfilms, photographs, cassette tapes, computer discs, gramophone - records, etc. Thus documents embrace all types of media, either paper or any other material which can store information for future use.

Presence of documents in Library:

These documents are to be in the stock of the Library or a group of libraries. When the catalog is for more than one Library, it is called a UNION CATALOGUE. The presence of the listed documents in the Library is essential.

The arrangement according to a Logical Order:

The list is to be arranged according to some logical order such as alphabetic or classified or any other systematic order.

IMPORTANCE OF CATALOGUE

A library catalog is essential for a library, and without it, it will not be possible to know what is available and where it is available. It is a key to the resources of a library. It gives a complete picture of the holding of the Library. It is the library catalog that provides the other approaches by various kinds of catalog entries. The extent of library resources depends significantly upon the quality of the library catalog will increase its use, while poor and disorganized records will mar its use. A good cataloguer is a must for providing satisfactory services to the user and thus increasing the use of the Library.

OBJECTIVE AND FUNCTIONS

i)Objective:

Charles Ammi Cutter, an American Librarian describees the objectives of the Library Catalogue as under:

1. To enable a person to find a book of which:

(a) the author is known.

(b) the title is known.

2. To show what the Library has:

(a) given by an author.

(b) given on a subject.

3. To assist in the choice of a book:

(a) as to its edition.

(b) as to its character.

ii)Functions:

The library catalog performs the following functions:

1. It records each book stocked in the Library by;

(a) Author

(b)Join author

(c)Editor/ compiler

(d)Translator

2. It arranges entries so that all books on a subject, by an author or a series, are found together.

3. It records each book and even parts of the book under the subject it treats.

4. It arranges subject entries in such a way, so that like subject is co-related.

5. It records the titlers of the book.

TYPES OF CATALOGUE

The chief types of catalog according to the arrangement are:

(a) Classified Catalogue

(b) Dictionary Catalogue

Classified Catalogue

The classified catalog is a catalog in which entries are arranged according to some classification scheme. This catalog can be consulted only when the user knows the classification scheme and knows the class numbers. It has only one approach, i.e., the subject. All the books on a topic are kept together and the related book near about.

Dictionary Catalogue

Dictionary catalog is a catalog in which entries are arranged alphabetically as in Dictionaryunder author, title, and subject, giving a multi-approach. It can be consulted easily like a Dictionary. This type of catalog is more important in public libraries.

Divided Catalogue

When a dictionary catalogs ios divided into two parts:

(a) Alphabetically under author and title

(b) Alphabetically under the subject

The selection of catalog depends on the type of Library and its users. When deciding the style of the record, the user's needs and their knowledge and how in the use of the Library is considered. Suppose the expertise and how in the use of the Library is considered. If the catalog is for a public library, the best type is Dictionary. For a particular library, the kind of catalog recommended is a classified catalog. For an academic library (University or College), the type recommended is a divided catalog.

Qualities Of A Good Catalogue

The qualities of a good Catalog are:

(i) Flexible: Easy to insert new entries

(ii) Accessible: The user has easy and free access.

(iii) Easy to scan: Convenient to move from one place to another place.

(iv) Easy to scan: The user can consult it quickly.

(v) Quick to consult

(vi) Can be kept up to date: Entries can be added and drawn quickly.

(vii) Like entries formed together.

(viii) Economical: Cheap to prepare and maintain.

(ix) Compact is size: will not require much space to keep.

(x) Easy to reproduce.

It will be seen that machines' readable catalog possesses much more of the above qualities.