What libraries lost when they threw out the card catalog
washingtonpost.com
What libraries lost when they threw out the card catalog
1–10 of 114 posts
Re: What libraries lost when they threw out the card catalog
#2I think the problem I have with modern election search is that often presented with what I don't want and I have to craft my query to get a decent list of sources. Mind you, this was way back in 2009 at Wichita State but the experience always seem to come up even when I use Google Scholar or equivalent modern search indices. They always seem to be off in terms of accuracy and relevance on the searches (especially now that I'm getting back into shortwave listening, finding articles on antenna theory is like pulling teeth).
Re: What libraries lost when they threw out the card catalog
#3Remember, technology is only good after it's old and been around for a while. When it's new, it's scary and bad. I look forward to being 90 and reading about people wistfully remembering the simpler and more cultured bygone days of smartphones and Facebook.
Re: What libraries lost when they threw out the card catalog
#4Anyone remember taking Library Class?
Learning card catalogue, Dewey decimal system, how to use microfiche, film strips, difference between fiction and non-fiction?
Part of cycle: home ec, industrial arts and keyboarding (elec piano)
Re: What libraries lost when they threw out the card catalog
#5Remember, technology is only good after it's old and been around for a while. When it's new, it's scary and bad. I look forward to being 90 and reading about people wistfully remembering the simpler and more cultured bygone days of smartphones and Facebook.
While I agree with your basic point, there's something to be said about anonymously searching for information in a non-dynamic fashion (that is, the catalogue is exactly the same for everyone - it doesn't rearrange itself based on your profile)
I love technology and all it brings us, but I find browsing in a good bookstore often more helpful than Amazon's recommendations or GoodReads or what have you. And the best part is, no one knows what I'm searching for - it's not stored forever in a database of my "preferences". (Yes, I know that bookstores save data on books that I buy, but Amazon et al track every click regardless of purchase)
Re: What libraries lost when they threw out the card catalog
#6Outside of university libraries with real books you have normal libraries. In these libraries the quietest and most devoid of activity area was anywhere near card index things. I am glad their meta data is superceded to some extent. Life moves on rather easily with these media format changes and not much is really lost, except for the likes of this author.
Re: What libraries lost when they threw out the card catalog
#7The thing we gained when we digitized a bunch of books is the ability to build new kinds of discovery engines, ones that don't just use the information on the card catalog cards:
https://blog.archive.org/2016/02/09/how-will-we-explore-book...
Re: What libraries lost when they threw out the card catalog
#8What an incredibly stupid article. The author is supposed to be talking about card catalogues, but then keeps talking about books and libraries. We're not getting rid of those, we're getting rid of card catalogues. Somehow I don't think we should force librarians to keep hand-writing or typing cards for every book, or deprive users of search functions, just for this idiot's BS Wes Anderson aesthetic.
Re: What libraries lost when they threw out the card catalog
#9Anyone remember taking Library Class? Learning card catalogue, Dewey decimal system, how to use microfiche, film strips, difference between fiction and non-fiction? Part of cycle: home ec, industrial arts and keyboarding (elec piano)
> difference between fiction and non-fiction
Wait, was that actually part of a curriculum? Surely if you know what "fiction" and "non-" mean you can understand the difference between the two.
Re: What libraries lost when they threw out the card catalog
#10> A national card catalogue system was the original “search engine” — one that ... was truly democratic.
I don't think I get how a digital library catalogue is less democratic than an analogue one? Is this just a poorly thought out and tossed off claim or is there something I'm missing.