Find, identify, selectsocialize?: Alternative objectives of library catalogs
Throughout history, library catalogs have served various purposes, yet most formal statements of catalog objectives focus on inventory and holdings. As contemporary libraries face questions about the continued relevance of the library catalog, these purposes inspire reexamination. This poster presents a historical review of library catalogs with emphasis on purposes, as well as a review of proposals for alternatives to these extant objectives in order to inform future catalog design and library advocacy.
library catalogs cataloging history