Cataloging Cataloging is a service which enables librarians and patrons to gain easy access to the books, audiocassettes, videocassettes, and other information sources housed in their libraries and those of other libraries throughout the United States and the world. The System's trained professional staff provides local libraries with customized records, either on cards for the library's card catalog, or MARC records for online computer catalog and automated check-out system. Each library's holdings are also added to the Kansas Library Catalog and the OCLC Online Union Catalog. These databases are accessed by the Interlibrary Loan Department. The MARC format makes it possible for computers to store and share bibliographic data in a consistent manner.
MARC records are machine-readable bibliographic descriptions of items held by member institutions.
The cataloger modifies these bibliographic records for local use and then adds the library's location symbol to the records. This allows other institutions to borrow items from the libraries that own them. Depending on the specifications of each library, the cataloger also makes catalog cards or exports MARC records to a computer disk so local libraries can add the items to their inhouse catalogs and automation systems. Reference Services Interlibrary Loan provides verification and access to print and non-print items from local, regional, national and international library collections. Reference services requiring professional research personnel will be provided using print, non-print and data base sources.