Introduction

A library catalog provides information about the books, periodicals, videos, databases, and other materials owned by a library. In the past, library catalogs were kept on cards in wooden drawers. Today, it is common for the records to be kept online, allowing you to search them by computer. Regardless of the form of access, the function is the same: to describe the materials owned by the library so that you can locate them by author, title, or subject. To read more about online library catalogs, click on the items below:

Searching Library Catalogs
Understanding the Information Provided by Online Catalogs
Locating Sources on Library Shelves
Selected Library Catalogs Available on the Internet