Statewide Cataloging Best Practices

Appendix A: Glossary

Terms used throughout the document are defined here.

Authority control – the process of establishing and maintaining consistency in headings (names, subjects, titles) across a library catalog

Bibliographic record – a structured entry that describes a specific library resource, such as a book or digital file

Bibliographic utility – service organizations that maintain databases of cataloging records for libraries and other clients

Copy cataloging – the process of editing a pre-existing bibliographic record instead of creating a completely new record from scratch

Descriptive fields – used to record the essential attributes of a resource, like author, title, edition, publication details, and physical description

Discovery tools – online search interfaces that allow users to access a wider range of resources, including the library’s catalog and external databases

GMD (General Material Designator) – a phrase or term interposed in brackets following the title of a catalogue or archive record to denote an item’s material type

ILS (Integrated Library System) – a software system that manages all aspects of library operations, including acquisitions, cataloging, circulation, and online public access

MARC (MAchine-Readable Cataloging) – a standard format for digital storage and exchange of bibliographic information, primarily used by libraries

OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) – an online database that allows users to search for and access information about the resources held by a library

RDA (Resource Description and Access) – a set of cataloging rules and guidelines used in libraries and other cultural institutions to create bibliographic data for resources