How to Write a Library Catalog Card
- 1). Write the main entry at the top of the card, making sure to leave a one-inch border along the left side, which is where the call number should be inserted. The main entry is the author's name written "last name, first name." Up to three authors can be listed in the main entry. If there are more authors, you will need to use the title for the main entry.
- 2). Type the title of the work in the first paragraph that follows the main entry. Copy the title of a book --- found on the title page --- and the title of a DVD, CD or any other work from its case exactly as it is written. For electronic and other non-print items, write the format in brackets immediately after the title. This is known as the general material designation. Terms that are used include "videorecording," "sound recording" or "electronic resource."
- 3). Place a slash after the title or, if present, the general material designation and write the author's name or the name of the company that produced the material and a period. This information is called the statement of responsibility. If a DVD was produced by Disney you must include it. For example, The Little Mermaid/a Disney production.
- 4). Add two hyphens after the period and begin writing in the edition. This is where you note if it is a first edition or if it was revised by typing "Rev." If there is no mention of which edition the item is, skip to Step 5.
- 5). Type the publication information by putting two hyphens, the city where the book was published, the name of the publisher, the publication date and a period. It may look like "Blood Law/by Jeannie Holmes. -- New York: Dell, 2010." Use the copyright date if there is no publication date listed on the title page of the book.
- 6). Press return and write the number of pages the book has followed by "p" and a period.
- 7). Press return twice to make a space on the card and type a brief description of the work. Press return again and type "ISBN" and its number found on the back cover of the book above the UPC code.
- 8). Make another space on the card by hitting return twice and type the general topics of the book or video. Consider this the area where you would write keywords, numbering each one. If you are writing the subject area for the book "Blood Law," you could type fiction, vampire and police procedural. You can have up to five subjects.
