Towards AACR3: A Review of the Implications of OPACs for Cataloguing Codes and Practices

Abstract

The increasing availability of on‐line public access catalogues (OPACs) offers a new mode of access to all types of library and information sources. The changing role of the catalogue merits a reassessment of the role of cataloguing codes. A wholesale revision of AACR is required. The basic purpose of a cataloguing code is standardisation of description, headings and punctuation. The essential nature of retrieval in OPACs is that retrieval can be based on words anywhere in a record. This has implications for the contents of the record, and merits a complete reassessment of the role of access points in catalogues.

Citation

Rowley, J.E. (1989), "Towards AACR3: A Review of the Implications of OPACs for Cataloguing Codes and Practices", Library Review, Vol. 38 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242539410791445