ABSTRACT
The library catalog is the starting point for most library research. The catalog is the key to a library and provides the principal means of gaining access to its holdings. There will be a card or record for each volume in the library listing the book under the last name of the author, a cross-reference card under the name of the title of the book, and at least one other card listing the book by subject. The main entry is the one filed alphabetically by author, or if there is no author, by title. Titles can be the main entry when there are no authors, or more than three authors. People will also find it useful to consult the bottom of the card where subject headings under which books on the same or related subjects are listed. In recent years most colleges and universities have installed on-line or computerized library catalogs.
