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Library Automation Jovita Kaur, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 7: Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction

7.1 Meaning of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
7.2 History of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
7.2.1 Early Online Catalogues

7.2.2 Stagnation and Dissatisfaction
7.2.3 Next-generation Catalogues
7.3 Online Catalogues and Card Catalogues
7.3.1 Developments and Directions of Online Catalogues
7.4 Online Catalogues: How They Differ from Manual Catalogues?

7.4.1 Creation and Manipulation of Bibliographic Records
7.4.2 Construction and Maintenance of the Catalogue
7.4.3 Searching, Retrieval and Display of Bibliographic Records

7.5 Summary
7.6 Keywords
7.7 Review Questions
7.8 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:

Understand the meaning of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
Discuss the history of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
Describe Online Catalogues and Card Catalogues
Understand the Online Catalogues and how they differ from manual catalogues

Introduction

The Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) is an information retrieval system characterized by
short bibliographic records, mainly of books, journals, and audio-visual materials available in
a particular library. This, coupled with a Boolean search interface and a heterogeneous user
population with diverse needs, presents special problems for subject searching by end users. To
perform effective subject searching in the OPAC system requires a wide range of knowledge
and skills. The trend toward Web-based OPAC interfaces and the developments in Internet and
digital library technologies present fresh opportunities for enhancing the effectiveness of the
OPAC system for subject searching. Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) terminals are
available on every floor of the Library. Through the OPAC you may search for titles held in the

122 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY