James L. Harner

“ Given the magnitude and versatility of the database, no researcher can afford to ignore WorldCat, but users must remember that, despite the size of the database, coverage—especially of materials in languages other than English—becomes less thorough as one moves back in time. ”

“ Basic Search allows users to search keyword, author, title, ISBN, and date fields. Users should note that records are sorted by the number of libraries holding copies but that clicking Options sorts a maximum of 500 records by ascending or descending author, title, date, or number of libraries. Advanced Search allows users to search a combination of fields: keyword, access method (e.g., URL) , accession number, author, language, type of material, notes, publisher, place of publication, ISBN, ISSN, subject, and title. For each of these fields, users can browse an index list. ”

“ Libraries and Library Catalogs Research Libraries Although most public, national, and academic libraries in North America and Europe are open to qualified researchers, many require some kind of professional identification for admission and a few require advance application. Researchers planning to work in an unfamiliar library—especially in special collections or at a European institution—should inquire well in advance about admission procedures, restrictions on materials in special collections, and hours of operation. ”

“ Since entries reflect the cataloging practices of a variety of libraries, union catalogs generally include a number of ghosts and duplicate records for the same edition and must be used with care for verification of dates, titles, publishers, editions, or series. Although WorldCat (E225) is a more efficient, accessible, and (for recent books) comprehensive source than the National Union Catalogs (E235, E240, and E245) , the following databases and printed catalogs are complementary research tools. ”

“ WorldCat records typically indicate if the subscribing institution has the document in its collection and provide a link for requesting the item through interlibrary loan. Previous searches can be rerun or combined. Records can be marked for printing, e-mailing, or downloading as a text file or into bibliographic software. Researchers should avoid the public version of WorldCat (http://worldcat.org) , which offers much less sophisticated search interfaces. Searches of this do not identify all editions of a work in the WorldCat database. ”

“ Users should keep the following points in mind:
A work can be located only by author, title for an anonymous publication, or (sometimes) editor for an anthology or collection; WorldCat (E225) , Library of Congress Shelflist (E260a) , and LC Subject Catalog (E260a) provide subject access to some entries, and WorldCat and Cumulative Title Index to the Library of Congress Shelflist (E260a) offer title access. There are numerous errors and ghosts, particularly because a card that includes even a minor variation is frequently treated as representing an “edition.” ”

“ African and black studies; women’s studies; performing arts; and education and children’s books. A majority of the entries are accompanied by annotations that describe the organization of a catalog, its library classification and subject indexing system, and special features. Two indexes: subjects; libraries. Although Nelson omits some important catalogs published before 1960 and includes a few serial bibliographies that are not library catalogs, it is the best guide to published library catalogs (most of which have been superseded by publicly accessible OPACs) . ”

“ Many libraries now have Web forms that allow researchers to file requests electronically, and several bibliographic databases (such as WorldCat [E225] ) can automatically generate requests.
Filling a request sometimes takes several weeks; however, the process can be expedited if researchers specify exactly the edition required or discriminate between journals with the same or similar titles. Some research libraries do not lend any of their holdings and most will not send rare, valuable, fragile, or unique books; manuscripts ”

“ Entries (organized by country, then alphabetically by city) include the name of the collection, address, a brief description of subjects, details of the kinds and size of holdings, information on access to the collection, and a list of finding aids and catalogs. Of the 343 collections described, 131 are from the United Kingdom, which is more thoroughly covered in Directory of Rare Book and Special Collections (E210) . Two indexes: institutions; subjects (in English, French, and German) . Lewanski, Richard C., comp. Subject Collections in European Libraries. ”

“ For example, one can save considerable time in the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress by recording call numbers in advance from the Library of Congress Online Catalog (E260) ; many libraries sponsor journals that print articles on their holdings and news of acquisitions; and most allow public access over the Internet to their electronic catalogs. Most library Web sites and commercial Web search engines provide links to library OPACs (online public-access catalogs) worldwide. ”

“ Organized by country, roughly by county (in the case of England) , city, and then institution, entries typically include address, telephone number, hours, requirements for admission, research facilities, and sometimes a brief history of the library. Each collection is then described separately, typically with a note on its origin and history, indication of size, summary of content and major holdings, and citations to finding aids. ”

“ Users would be better served if each index printed complete information and locations. Literary researchers will find WorldCat (E225) more efficient to use and generally more comprehensive than NUC: Books, especially beginning in 1990, when records were no longer included from WorldCat and from the now defunct RLG Union Catalog and Western Library Network. ”

“ Anyone not holding a current reader pass should consult the Admission to the Reading Rooms and Reader’s Cards Rates page (http://www.bnf.fr/en/bnf/admission_and_rates/s.admission_to_reading_rooms_research_library.html?first_Art=non) . ”