Page 180 - DLIS002_KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGUING THEORY

Unit 9: Physical Forms and Types of Library Catalogues

Disadvantages of Bound Register Notes

(a) It is not flexible. Entries for new books added cannot always be inserted at their proper
places as the left out space is filled shortly.

(b) Pages in the register get torn due to constant handling. Hence, new updated registers are
to be prepared continuously.

9.4.2 Printed Book Form

These types of library catalogues are prepared conforming to all the standard principles and
rules of cataloguing, with cross reference and multiple entries. In the 19th century, the most
common physical form of a library catalogue was the printed book form. Especially, some of the
big libraries like British Museum Library (now renamed as the British Library), the Library of
Congress, National Library Calcutta, printed their catalogues in the book form. To keep the
catalogue updated, they used to issue supplements to these catalogues at regular intervals, e.g.,
the catalogue of the Royal Asiatic Society Library, Bombay was kept up-to-date in this way.

Advantages of Printed Book Form

(a) The catalogue can brought out in multiple copies in desired numbers, and can be priced
and sold.
(b) Library users can refer to the catalogue at their leisure at their home or work place and
need not come to the library just to find out whether the library processes a particular
book of their choice.
(c) It is easier to consult a book catalogue, as there are many entries on one page.

(d) It does not occupy much space and is easy to handle.
(e) The catalogue can be issued subject-wise thereby catering to the needs of different subject
groups of users.
Disadvantages of Printed Book Form

(a) It is costly to bring out printed catalogues.
(b) It takes more time to prepare the press copy.
(c) It becomes out-dated by the time it is out of press. Preparing a print ready copy for the
press takes a considerable amount of time and effort and the items acquired for the library
during this period cannot be included, resulting in numerous supplements. Consulting all
these supplements is tedious and time-consuming.
(d) At a given point of time, the cataloguer cannot indicate the complete collection.

(e) It is not flexible. Insertion of entries for new books or deletion of entries for lost books is
not possible.

(f) It is necessary to have qualified staff with the knowledge of cataloguing and printing
process.
(g) The computerized printouts of a library catalogue are a near substitute of a printed book
catalogue.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 175