Catalog Collection

Catalog and classify library or archival materials using standard classification systems and descriptive cataloging practices.

When to Use

• You are organizing a personal, institutional, or community library from scratch
• You need to assign call numbers and subject headings to new acquisitions
• You want to create consistent catalog records for findability
• You are reclassifying a collection that has outgrown its original system
• You need to establish authority control for authors, series, or subjects

Inputs

• Required: Materials to catalog (books, serials, media, archival items)
• Required: Chosen classification system (Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress)
• Optional: Existing catalog or inventory to integrate with
• Optional: Subject heading authority (LCSH, Sears, or custom thesaurus)
• Optional: MARC-compatible cataloging software (Koha, Evergreen, LibraryThing)