Some companies supply cataloging services such as MARC records, catalog cards, book label sets, and barcodes at reasonable prices. Even if library mangers choose to purchase prepared cataloging records for the library, they should have knowledge of how items are cataloged and classified. The information found on a catalog card or in a MARC record can help the library manager to assist customers in finding answers to their information needs. The information on the catalog record describes the library material in such a way that the library manager or customer has information about that item such as title, author, publisher, date, physical description, and notes. Many small public libraries use the Sears List of Subject Headings and the Dewey Decimal System to classify the materials in the library.
Subject headings allow customers to find items without knowledge of the title or author.
The Dewey Decimal System allows the library manager to put like things together on the shelf to facilitate browsing. The customer may also browse through the catalog finding similar topics together. The process called cataloging involves describing the item in hand with details such as title, author, publisher, date, physical description, notes, and other information about the item in a very precise way. Catalogers use standardized formatting procedures to place that descriptive information on a 3x5 card or in a MARC record. Catalogers look at the title page of a book to find official information about the title, author, publisher, and place of publication.