Page 176 - DLIS002_KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGUING THEORY

Unit 9: Physical Forms and Types of Library Catalogues

Introduction Notes

The library catalogue is an effective and necessary tool to access the library resources. Over the
years, the cataloguing has metamorphosed into various forms. The form should be suitable to
the respective library and convenient for the user. The experts in the library field developed
different forms of library catalogue, such as, bound register form, printed book form, sheaf
form, card form, and modern forms like visible index form, microform, and machine-readable
form. The purpose of this Unit is to enable the students to comprehend basic expressions.

9.1 Evolution of Physical Form (External Form)

A Library Catalogue is a record of the holdings of a library. In order to meet the requirements
of users, it is prepared to consist of various units records. These records are called entries. Each
entry is designed for satisfying a particular approach of a user. Entries are prepared according to
a set of rules contained in a catalogue code.

Over a period of time, library experts have tried to develop different physical forms of library
catalogue, such as, bound register form, printed book form, sheaf form, card form and modern
forms like visible index form, microform and machine-readable form. Although some of the
older forms like bound register, sheaf catalogue are slowly becoming obsolete, the card catalogue
continues to be popular, particularly in countries like India.
The unit card principle that came up with the card catalogue has enabled the growth of centralised
and cooperative cataloguing. Cataloguing-in-publication can also be traced to this development.
Machine-readable catalogues with their versatility and efficiency are replacing the card catalogue.
These catalogues have extended the scope of centralised cataloguing and library networks.
A comparative statement of the features of the different physical forms of library catalogue is
given to provide an overview of the relative merits and demerits of these physical forms of
library catalogue.

Notes Physical or outer form of the catalogue relates to the external shape, size, and
appearance of the stationary to be used for recording entries of documents, such as cards
and equipment to stock the stationary, i.e., Kardex or Card Cabinets.

The second one is the arrangement in a helpful sequence to retrieve information about documents
in the library e.g., dictionary or classified catalogue. Each of these has a bearing on the other.
In fact, ease of use, physical shape and size, space requirements, cost of physical production,
maintenance, etc., have always influenced cataloguing over the years. Conversely, the preparation
of different kinds of entries, provision of cross-references and similar other user oriented
requirements of a library catalogue, have also influenced the choice of a particular physical
form of a catalogue in libraries. The physical forms of library catalogues can be broadly studied
under two groups: Conventional and Non-conventional/Modern.

Requirements in Physical Form

Following requirements must be kept in mind while selecting the physical form of a catalogue:

1. It should be economical to produce and maintain;
2. It should be reasonably accessible (within approach) to both users and members of the
staff;

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