www.IndianJournals.com Members Copy, Not for Commercial Sale Downloaded From IP - 14.139.69.74 on dated 10-Sep-2014 Pearl 16 OCLC and Cataloguing V. UMA * C. GEETHA ** ABSTRACT This paper discusses the features of OCLC and experiences of IGM Library as s a governing member of OCLC. The important features of MARC21 and AACR2 are described. The relationship of conventional cataloguing and the modern cataloguing are highlighted and thereby the importance of uniformity and standardization in cataloguing is emphasized. 1. Introduction: The catalogue is the record of the holdings of a library and is a guide to the identification and location of each item on the shelves. As such catalogues are to be kept scrupulously up-to-date. Cataloguing aims at describing in detail every item in the collection. The catalogue is the mirror of the library holdings. James Duff Brown in his Manual of Library Economy defined a catalogue as “ an explanatory, logically arranged inventory and key to the books and their contents and it is confined to the books in a particular library”. Dr. S.R.Ranganathan defined the catalogue as a “methodically arranged record of information about its bibliographical resources.” Cataloguing the books is essential to know what book is available in the library and where. Only if a catalogue is complete the library can satisfy the various approaches of the readers. Without an index the collection will be of no use. A modern library catalogue displays the record of a library’s resources with a variety of search options thus simplifying the access to resources. It provides basic bibliographic information to systematic study and research and functions as a select author and subject bibliography. The catalogue entry provides information about the author, joint author, translator, subject, title, series etc thus enabling parallel search. 2. Need for automating the cataloguing module The need for computerization of library activities has been felt due to the ever increasing workload in libraries in all spheres of day to day activities. A computerized cataloguing system can facilitate the following: Ł Efficiency in cataloguing Ł Speed in cataloguing Ł Economy of staff and services Ł Improved updating of the catalogue Ł Variety of outputs Ł More bibliographical details and depth of subject cataloguing Ł Multiple access to files through online Ł Improved information accessibility through increased access points Ł Speed in locating and retrieving information Ł Search of items by combination of index terms * Assustant Librarian, IGM Library, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad. ** Documentation Officer, IGM Library, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad.