Even this mere sketch in outline of cataloguing history would be incomplete without some allusion to the printing of the "British Museum Catalogue of Printed Books." The printing of the first portion, containing the books to the end of 1881, was the work of twenty years, and consists of 393 parts, which superseded more than 2,000 folio volumes of the manuscript catalogue. The supplement containing the books added to the Museum during the years 1882-1899 was completed in 1905, and those who have the opportunity of constant reference to the pages of the complete work know how valuable—even indispensable—it is, and look forward to the appearance of the next supplement. Decennial supplements would be none too frequent.
When to-day so many excellent catalogues of libraries are produced it would be invidious to single out any for special praise, but no excuse is needed for naming that of the London Library published in 1903 with its subject volume of 1909, both volumes being remarkable for condensation and accuracy. At this time (1913) a new revised and enlarged edition is announced for publication.
Mr. H. B. Wheatley's interesting little book, "How to Catalogue a Library," must not be overlooked in connection with the history of modern library cataloguing, particularly the chapter on "The Battle of the Rules."
CHAPTER III.
Dictionary versus Classified Catalogues.
Form to be fixed. The users of Catalogues. Questions Catalogues are expected to answer. The Dictionary Catalogue. The Classified Catalogue. The Alphabetico-Classed Catalogue. Definitions.
We now proceed to consider the needs of those for whom our catalogues are prepared.
It may be presumed that most of those who use this book are engaged in municipal or similar libraries, where the requirements of the many must be taken into account rather than the special needs of the few. For those who have yet to acquire experience it is as well to state that in cataloguing, as in most other departments of library work, a definite decision as to the form and methods to be adopted must be made at the outset, as it is impossible to start upon one form and then change to another without confusion or the sacrifice of work already done. Then, again, readers as a rule are extremely conservative, and not only dislike a change but are quick to resent it even when the advantages are sufficiently obvious to warrant it. Librarians and their assistants, too, get accustomed to a particular method, and after several years of working find it difficult to make a change to another without it affecting their work, often unconsciously.
The spread of education and reading nowadays would lead us to suppose that most people possess a sufficient amount of general knowledge to enable them to make an intelligent use of a catalogue, provided it is compiled upon well-defined and logical principles. Should the compiler happen to have all the accomplishments named in Chapter I., and yield to the temptation to air them by the production of a highly scientific catalogue, he will find that his labours are unappreciated, and that he must adapt his work to the needs of the average "man in the street." Mr. H. B. Wheatley says as to this "that some persons seem to think that everything is to be brought down to the comprehension of the fool; but if by doing this we make it more difficult for the intelligent person, the action is surely not politic. The consulter of a catalogue might at least take the trouble to understand the plan upon which it is compiled before using it." Mr. Wheatley's experience is not that of public librarians generally, as not one person in a thousand does take this trouble.