Re: Define catalog!

            [The purpose of a dictionary catalog is …]

1. To enable a person to find a book of which either

      (A)   the author

      (B)   the title

      (C)   the subject

is known

2. To show what the library has

      (D)   by a given author

      (E)   on a given subject

      (F)   in a given kind of literature

3. To assist in the choice of a book

(G)  as to its edition (bibliographically)

(H)   as to its character (literary or topical)

(Charles A. Cutter. /Rules for a Dictionary Catalog/. 4^th ed., 1904, p. 12)

The first of Thomas' 2 statements is still essentially what Cutter
defined a dictionary catalogue as over 100 years ago. Add the
current-availability information, which could not have been part of
Cutter's world, and the broader scope of media/formats and you pretty
well arrive at the current OPAC.
Roger Fenton


Thomas Dowling wrote:

>On 6/7/2006 9:31 AM, Drew, Bill wrote:
>
>
>
>>One of the first things that needs to be done is to define what the
>>catalog is currently...
>>
>>
>
>
>In a universe of information resources, not all of which are available
>to me, the catalog is the tool that talks to me in terms of which ones
>are and are not available.
>
>Traditionally this has been in the form of a locally maintained database
>focused on a local physical collection--especially the monographs in
>that collection--and tightly tied into modules like acquisitions,
>cataloging, and circulation.  But none of this is integral to the task
>of answering these questions:
>
>  Given my search criteria, what resources are available to me?
>
>  Given a specific resource, it it available to me or not?
>
>
>Ways in which current catalogs fall short of answering those questions
>is a matter of protracted conversation.  Ironing those wrinkles out in
>the next generation is why we're here, right?  :-)
>
>
>--
>Thomas Dowling
>tdowling_at_ohiolink.edu
>
>

--
Roger Fenton

Swyddog Prosiect
Adran Gwasanaethau Casgliadau
Is-adran Systemau
Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3BU
Cymru

http://www.llgc.org.uk/
Ffôn: +44 (0) 1970 632800 est. 368
e-bost: roger.fenton_at_llgc.org.uk

Dydy'r uchod ddim o reidrwydd yn cynrychioli polisi'r LlGC

Project Officer
Department of Collection Services
Systems Section
National Library of Wales
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3BU
Wales

http://www.llgc.org.uk/
Tel.: +44 (0) 1970 632800 ext. 368
Fax: +44 (0) 1970 632882
e-mail: roger.fenton_at_llgc.org.uk

The above does not necessarily represent NLW policy