library catalogues
Collection finding aids
Library catalogues are organized records of materials held by a library—books, periodicals, recordings, and other resources.
Traditionally card-based systems with drawers of index cards, they have largely migrated to searchable electronic databases.
A catalogue allows patrons to locate items by title, author, subject, or call number: I searched the library catalogue for books on medieval history.
Library classification by numbers
- call numbersLibrary book locators
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- metadataDescriptive information about content
- indexingSystematic organization for retrieval
Scholarly single-topic publications
- serialsContinuing episodic stories
- periodicalsRecurring printed publications
- archivesStored historical documents
- special collectionsCurated rare library holdings
rare books · manuscripts · government documents · ephemera · maps · microfilm · acquisitions · holdings
Act of seeking
- browseSurvey without intent
- lookupAct of retrieving information
- retrievalAct of getting back
- keyword searchFinding results using terms
Boolean operators · advanced search · filters · results · holdings · availability · location · reserves
Dewey Decimal
Library classification by numbers
- call numbersLibrary book locators
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- metadataDescriptive information about content
indexing · cross-references · descriptors · thesaurus · cataloger
monographs
Scholarly single-topic publications
- serialsContinuing episodic stories
- periodicalsRecurring printed publications
- archivesStored historical documents
special collections · rare books · manuscripts · government documents · ephemera · maps · microfilm · acquisitions · holdings · volumes
search
Act of seeking
keyword search · Boolean operators · advanced search · filters · results · holdings · availability · location · reserves · interlibrary loan
- book historybookbinding, colophon, edition, folio, frontispiece
- librariescirculation desk, stacks, reference desk, checkout, checkout desk
library cataloguesrestricted access
Entry limited to authorized individuals
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