Page 182 - DLIS002_KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGUING THEORY

Unit 9: Physical Forms and Types of Library Catalogues

Centralized cataloguing initiated the publishing of bibliographic entries of documents on the Notes
reverse side of the title page, which is referred to as Cataloguing-in-Publication (CIP). Dr
Ranganathan called it as “Prenatal Cataloguing.” This facility enables the libraries to use the
bibliographical data available on the books for the preparation of their catalogues. The Library
of Congress and the British National Bibliography have been participating in the CIP programme
from January 1977.

Notes Cooperation in compiling bibliographic records is another extension of centralised
cataloguing. The participating libraries in cooperative cataloguing provide the catalogue
entries to the central library if they are not available.

Advantages of Card Form

(a) It is flexible, i.e., it can be constantly updated.
(b) The users and the library staff can handle it with ease.

(c) The cards are single, self-contained units. These features permit additional approach and
cross references in the catalogue.
(d) The libraries using the card catalogue can participate in central and cooperative cataloguing
scheme. This reduces the burden of the staff.

Disadvantages of Card Form

Though the card form of library catalogue is universally accepted, it also suffers from some
disadvantages:
(a) The card catalogue occupies large space in libraries. The problem of space is very acute in
large libraries located in metropolitan cities. Libraries with a massive collection running
into lakhs of documents with an annual addition of 10,000 volumes would need enormous
space for their card catalogues. The cost of space is prohibitive in metropolitan cities and
this has been a deterrent against continuing with the card catalogue in such libraries.
(b) The growth and complexity associated with the card catalogue calls for greater maintenance
costs.
(c) Due to inherent defects associated with the structure of a card catalogue, it is possible for
a single person to monopolize a considerable number of trays at a time, precluding its use
simultaneously by other users.
(d) It is not portable and hence the user has to go to the library for consulting it. This naturally
leads to wastage of time, particularly if the library does not possess the documents of
user’s interest.

9.4.5 Visible Index Form

This form of catalogue is extensively used in libraries attached to business and industrial houses.
In Indian libraries, however, its use is limited.
Visible index catalogue consists of strips mounted on a frame or cards held flat, hinged with a
certain depth of visible edge. The cards are usually of the size 12.5x20 cm and inserted into a
hinged Kraft pockets. These pockets are held in a specially prepared steel cabinet. Such steel
cabinets are available under the trade name Kardex. These are generally used for maintaining

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