What are classification systems and cataloging systems?
A classification system is simply a method for organizing books and other bibliographic items. Collections are usually organized by subject. Examples of classification systems are: • the familiar Dewey Decimal Classification System, which is used in most school libraries and public libraries,http://www.oclc.org/oclc/fp/index.htm , see section 5.1 below, and • the Library of Congress classification system, http://lcweb.loc.gov/, used in most university and research libraries, see section 5.3 below. A library catalog is the ordered list of materials the library holds, and cataloging is the preparation of entries for the library catalog. A cataloger prepares a bibliographic record on the material, i.e. author, title, date, subject, etc., and this list of holdings is accessed via either a traditional card catalog system or computerized Online Public Assess Catalog (OPAC). MAchine Readable Cataloging, MARC, is an international digital standard for bibliographic records designed to aid the d
