The card catalog in a library contains cards that provide information about books in the library's collection. The cards are organized alphabetically and contain identifying information like call numbers to help users locate books on the shelf. There are three types of cards: author cards list books alphabetically by the author's last name, title cards list books alphabetically by title, and subject cards list books under broad topics that are further subdivided into more specific subjects. This system was created to help patrons find books regardless of whether they know the author, title, or subject.

1. WHAT IS THE CARDWHAT IS THE CARD
CATALOG?CATALOG?
The original purpose of the card catalog was to
provide library users with multiple ways to
search for books. Before the advent of
automation, each card was written in what was
called "library hand," then filed manually in
drawers.

3. IT IS THE INDEX TO THE COLLECTION OF
THE LIBRARY. IT CONTAINS CARDS
ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED. THERE ARE
LABELS OUTSIDE THE TRAYS TO ASSIST
THE USER IN LOCATING THE BOOK HE OR
SHE NEEDS. CARDS SIZE “3X”5 ARE FILED
IN THE CARD CATALOG TO GIVE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOOKS. EACH
CARD CONTAINS A CALL NUMBER WHICH
APPEARS IN THE UPPER LEFT-HAND
CORNER TO IDENTIFY THE BOOK.

4. ..

5. In a Library, What Are theIn a Library, What Are the
Three Types of Cards in theThree Types of Cards in the
Card Catalog?Card Catalog?
||
Library card catalogs use three types of cards. These
form a system that helps patrons locate a book on the
shelf. The card types have listings by author, subject or
title. The system was created to assist people who may
not be sure of all of the information about a book.
Information on the card corresponds with where the book
is located.

6. Author card catalogAuthor card catalog
Author cards in the catalog are fairly
straightforward, listing the author alphabetically
by last name. Authors of similar name can be
differentiated by a middle initial or by their birth
and death dates. If a book has multiple authors,
the card catalog will give each of them their own
author card with their co-authors listed, so that if
readers know just one author they can still find
the book. Authors using pen names will often
have a "See Also" card under that name directing
readers to the full listing elsewhere.

8. Title Card CatalogTitle Card Catalog
The title cards are filed alphabetically by the
title of a book, not counting the article (The,
A, An, etc.). In the card catalog, title cards
are listed after author and subject cards
when all start with the same word. Title cards
will also contain the subtitle of the book. Like
author and subject cards, title cards will
contain the publishing date and number of
pages.

10. Subject Card CatalogSubject Card Catalog
Subject listings in the card catalog are most
helpful for a reader who isn't in search of a
specific book, but would rather see all the books
under a certain topic. All card catalogs list
subjects and subdivisions of subjects based on
criteria created by The Library of Congress.
Subject cards will begin with the broadest topic
(i.e., Literature) and then become more specific
and subdivided (i.e., Literature-American;
Literature, American, 1900-1945).