Future of Library catalog

1. Future catalog
Extract
Catalog-a brief history
1. Catalog is a very important service of a library like Issue and Return, inter-
library loan, Classification, shelving, acquisition etc.
2. The journey of making a catalog is a long one. Libraries always provided in
different forms a list of their resources. It all started with a list of resources as
they were acquired in the library, date- wise. Each resource was described by
its title, author, publisher, price etc.
3. Formats changed from a register, sheaf, card, and lastly as a database fed in
computer.
4. Computer based catalog has also changed from stand alone to networking
5. It has now acquired the status of online catalog.
6. Catalogers were trained to catalog by inputting a set of fields of a document.
7. MARC format was developed for describing a document, as per MARC fields.
8. MARC was developed to feed card catalog in a computer, to reproduce a
printed card for each entry. This later eliminated hand written card, replacing it
as printed card.
9. LOC started its project of printing Catalog Cards of its resources for sale to
other libraries
Catalog-now
1. Online catalog of documents is a reality. Libraries, online shopping of
documents, and google are creating online catalog of documents
2. MARC is no longer a viable format. Libraries prefer to opt for online catalog of
their resources, rather card catalog in a cabinet to be kept in the library.
3. Digital libraries are now developing.
4. Library networks are developing
Cataloging, Future of
1. Development of a Library catalog code for designing Online- catalog of Library
resources has to be undertaken.
2. The present practice of independent cataloging by Libraries has to be
minimized.
3. A non-MARC standard has to be developed.
4. An analytic-synthetic scheme of classification on the basis of theory of
classification propounded by Dr. S R Ranganathan has to be developed.
5. A Thesaurus and Subject Headings list based on ASyS developed as above
has to be developed.
6. The library catalog so produced has to fulfill the need of users, on the basis of
both Classified/Dictionary queries.
7. A robust search engine has to be developed to search only library resources
available on internet.
8. A global network of library networks available on internet has to be developed.