BLOCK 2 LIBRARY CATALOGUING
Introduction
Library cataloguing shares a symbiotic relation with library classification. The latter
provides access to the resources in a library by class number, enables browsing to
select a book, provides a panoramic view of the resources whereas the former provides
all bibliographic details and subject of resources at one place. Library classification
provides a linear view of subject relations but the catalogue takes care of the multi-
dimensional relations. There have been significant changes in library cataloguing due to
the arrival of non-book material and use of computers for processing information. ICT
has enabled sharing of information for which paradigmatic changes have been brought
about in cataloguing. The four units in this Block are devoted to the concepts of
cataloguing and developments in it.
Unit 5 introduces the concept of cataloguing. It is titled Basic Concepts. After defining
library catalogue, it discusses its need, objectives, functions and qualities. There are
some other bibliographic records in a library that are related to a library catalogue.
These include shelf list and accession register that have been discussed in relation to a
library catalogue. Types and Forms of Catalogues is the title of Unit 6. There are
two forms of a catalogue, viz. internal and external forms. Internal forms relate to the
internal arrangement of catalogue entries whereas the different physical forms are referred
to as external forms. Different types of both the forms have been discussed in detail in
the Unit.
Unit 7, Formats and Standards, discusses International Standards Bibliographic
Description (ISBD) and MARC formats. Standardisation in cataloguing is needed to
bring in uniformity in cataloguing procedures. Rules for cataloguing are examples of
standardisation. These help to identify, present and display bibliographic elements in
catalogue entries. Formats have been given to codify and present bibliographic elements
for processing by computers. Different MARC formats and their characteristic features
have been discussed in the Unit.
Unit 8 is Cataloguing of Non-Book Material. Non Book Materials (NBM) are
those materials which do not come within the definition of a conventional book, periodical
or pamphlet. Audio-visual materials, microforms, computer files, electronic resources,
etc are some examples of these. NBM require special treatment in terms of their
bibliographic description for access and searching information. The Unit discusses
different NBM giving examples and rules for their cataloguing in AACR2R.
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