What is a Shelf List? Differentiate it with library catalogue.

A shelf list is a comprehensive inventory or list of all the materials held in a library, arranged by call number or classification number. It serves as a finding aid for library staff to locate materials on the shelves and is often used for inventory control and collection management purposes.

Differentiation between Shelf List and Library Catalogue:

1. Purpose:

   • Shelf List: The primary purpose of a shelf list is to provide a detailed inventory of the library's holdings, organized in the order in which the materials are shelved. It is primarily used by library staff for internal management tasks.
   • Library Catalogue: The library catalogue, on the other hand, is designed to provide users with access to the library's collection. It is a searchable database that contains bibliographic records for each item in the collection, allowing users to search for materials by author, title, subject, etc.

2. Content:

   • Shelf List: A shelf list includes detailed information about each item in the collection, such as call number, title, author, publication information, and location on the shelf.
   • Library Catalogue: The library catalogue includes bibliographic records that describe each item in the collection, but it may also include additional information, such as summaries, reviews, and subject headings, to help users find and select materials.

3. Accessibility:

   • Shelf List: The shelf list is typically not accessible to library users and is used primarily by library staff for internal purposes.
   • Library Catalogue: The library catalogue is accessible to library users, either through a physical card catalogue or an online catalogue, and allows users to search for and locate materials in the collection.

4. Updates:

   • Shelf List: The shelf list requires regular updates and maintenance to reflect changes in the collection, such as new acquisitions, withdrawals, or relocations of materials.
   • Library Catalogue: The library catalogue is also regularly updated to reflect changes in the collection, but it may be updated more frequently and made available to users in real-time.

In summary, while both the shelf list and the library catalogue serve important roles in managing and providing access to a library's collection, they differ in their purpose, content, accessibility, and maintenance requirements. The shelf list is primarily an internal inventory tool, whereas the library catalogue is designed to provide users with access to the collection.