Copy Cataloguing through SOUL 2.0

Abstract

Cataloguing is one of the important housekeeping operations of the libraries. Almost all the libraries, with a few exceptions, use cataloguing module to create bibliographical records.The task of creating bibliographical records can be reduced to the minimum by using copy cataloguing option. It is an alternative for original cataloguing. The article describes the catalogue module and copy cataloguing through SOUL 2.0. A brief overview of copy cataloguing in India has also been taken. It has been found that it is underutilised practice and library professional need to utilise the facility of copy catalogueing through IndCat, WorldCat or any other bibliographic database providing such facility. The initiative taken by INFLIBNET in the form IndCat is praiseworthy on this background, yet there might be problems with regard to regional language documents. The recognised publishers need to provide MARC record along with books to promote copy cataloguing. In effect, the library professional have to demand books with MARC records to make them think this as regular practice. Although, copy cataloguing offers an opportunity over original cataloguing, its needs to be judiciously used. In fact its usage as the author urges will help to address and remove the issues pertaining to copy cataloguing.

dx.doi.org/10.14429/djlit.35.5.8578