Page 162 - DLIS002_KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGUING THEORY

Unit 8: Library Cataloguing

Notes

Notes MARC has set the standard for all computer catalogues used in libraries today, and
if the records contained in the catalogue comply with MARC requirements, the only
controls on areas to be searched are the limits of the particular cataloguing program.

When library materials are catalogued 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.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
5. The primary purpose of a library catalogue is to serve as a guide to the collection of
materials.
6. The library catalogue might not be compared to the index for a book.

8.4 Functions of the Catalogue

One of the essential functions of the library is to satisfy the user’s needs and the library catalogue
performs this function by matching the needs of the user with the resources of the library.
According to Dr S.R. Rangathan, the function of the catalogue “is to help the exploitation of
resources of the library in conformity with the laws of library science.”
According to Shera and Egan, basically there are two functions of a library catalogue:
First, the accurate and speedy determination of whether or not an item known by author or title
is in the collection or in the library, and if yes, then where it may be found; and
Second, what materials the library contains upon a given subject, where they may be found, and
how they are related to one another.

However, a library catalogue should perform the following functions:
1. In order to provide information concerning all works by a given author, as far as they
exist in the library, the catalogue should arrange author entries in such a way that all
works of the same author will, as far as practicable, be found together under the same
name.

2. In order to make provisions for information concerning all editions, translations, etc., of
a given “work” as far as they exist in the library, the library catalogue should record each
book in the library by author, translator, editor, compiler, series or by any other person,
body or name under which a reader might look.
3. In order to show the subject coverage of a library, a catalogue should list each work and
even parts of a work or components of a composite work under the subjects treated of.
4. The catalogue should also arrange the subject entries in such a way that like topics fall
together and related topics correlated.
5. In order to guide readers, whose approaches to authors’ names, titles, specific subjects,
etc., may be different from those used in the catalogue, the catalogue should employ cross
references by which a reader may be guided from one entry in the catalogue to another.

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