Overview
This lecture details the history and significance of the library card catalog, tracing its origins, development, and eventual replacement by modern technology, while highlighting its impact on libraries and cataloging standards.
Origins of Cataloging
- The first known cataloging tool was a Sumerian cuneiform tablet from around 2000 B.C., used to list information.
- Early catalogs were shelf lists or bound volumes, listing books only by shelf order, not by author or subject.
Development of the Card Catalog
- Card catalogs introduced the ability to access books by title, author, or subject, revolutionizing library organization.
- Smithsonian librarian Charles Jewett advocated for centralized cataloging, and Ezra Abbot created the first modern card catalog for readers.
- Charles Cutter developed new cataloging rules and systems later adopted widely, influencing the Library of Congress classification.
- Melvil Dewey introduced a numerical, controlled vocabulary system (Dewey Decimal Classification).
Role of the Library of Congress
- The Library of Congress faced rapid growth after the 1870 copyright law, requiring a new cataloging system.
- Librarians Herbert Putnam, J.C.M. Hanson, and Charles Martel led reforms, introducing subject headings and reorganizing catalogs for efficiency.
- In 1901, the Library began selling printed catalog cards to other libraries, standardizing cataloging nationwide.
Impact and Decline of the Card Catalog
- The distribution of catalog cards allowed even small libraries to have professional, standardized catalogs.
- By the 1950s, card catalogs became unwieldy, with millions of cards and space shortages.
- The adoption of computer cataloging and MARC (Machine-Readable Cataloging) in the 1970s led to the decline and removal of card catalogs from libraries.
Historical Anecdotes
- During the French Revolution, libraries used playing cards as catalog cards for confiscated collections, demonstrating the practicality of sturdy, uniform cards.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Card Catalog — A filing system of index cards providing access to library collections by author, title, and subject.
- Shelf List — A list of library books arranged in shelf order.
- Controlled Vocabulary — A standardized set of terms used for cataloging and retrieval.
- MARC — Machine-Readable Cataloging; a digital format for bibliographic information.
- Subject Headings — Standardized terms used to describe the content of library materials.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the role of cataloging standards and their impact on modern libraries.
- Consider reading "The Card Catalog: Books, Cards and Literary Treasures" for deeper historical examples.