How to Do Card Catalog Cards for Biographies

In the days before computers and online card catalogs, libraries used manual card catalogs to keep track of their materials and to help patrons find books. The card catalog cards were paper cards that were filed alphabetically in sets of drawers. There were three main types of cards: Author, title and subject. Biographies are often collected by lovers of the genre, and creating card catalog cards will help collector’s keep track of their titles.

Things You'll Need

• Index cards
• Typewriter or computer with printer or pen
• Plastic drawer or filing box

Instructions

How to Begin

1. Collect your biographies and arrange them alphabetically by subject’s name to make the process quicker. If you have two or more titles on the same person, arrange them alphabetically by author as well.

2. Check the condition of your biographies. Repair any books that need mending, discard any you do not enjoy or want to keep.

3. Think about how you want to classify your biographies. If you will be creating card catalog cards for other genres as well, you will want to decide how to indicate which titles are biographies. The capital letter B is often used, as are the numerals 92 and 921 from the Dewey Decimal classification system. The Library of Congress method is another alternative, but is more complex and time consuming, and usually only used in universities.

4. Decide which type of card catalog card you will use. A true card catalog would contain an author card, a title card, and a subject card. This method would allow you to look up titles written by certain authors, by title if you can’t remember the author or by subject if you want to determine what books you have on a certain individual. If you do not have a lot of time or space, consider doing subject cards at least.

Author Cards

1. Write or type the chosen indicator for biography (B, 92, 921) in the upper left hand corner of the index card. Consult the copyright page of the book to determine additional information.

2. Write the author's name on the card beginning with last name followed by a comma, then first name and any middle initial. You also may add the author’s year of birth followed by a dash and year of death if applicable.

3. Indent five spaces on the line below the author’s name and write the title of the book. Under this write the publishing information and copyright date. On the line below this, write the number of pages, description of the book and whether it contains pictures or illustrations.

4. Write the ISBN number or Library of Congress number of the book on the next line. Write the subject of the biography on the line under that. Add a synopsis if you desire.

5. Complete the card by again writing or typing the chosen indicator (B, 92 or 921) on the line below the subject.

Subject Cards

1. Write or type the chosen indicator for biography (B, 92, 921) in the upper left hand corner of the index card. Consult the copyright page of the book to determine additional information.

2. Write the subject of the biography in capital letters

3. Write the author's name on the card beginning with last name followed by a comma, then first name and any middle initial. You may also add the author’s year of birth followed by a dash and year of death if applicable.

4. Indent five spaces on the line below the author’s name and write the title of the book. Under this write the publishing information and copyright date. On the line below this, write the number of pages, description of the book and whether it contains pictures or illustrations.

5. Write the ISBN number or Library of Congress number of the book on the next line. Write the subject of the biography on the line under that. Add a synopsis if you desire. Complete the subject card by again writing or typing the chosen indicator (B, 92 or 921) on the line below the subject.

Title Card

1. Write or type the chosen indicator for biography (B, 92, 921) in the upper left hand corner of the index card.

2. Write the complete title of the biography on the card.

3. Write the author's name beginning with last name followed by a comma, then first name and any middle initial. You may also add the author’s year of birth followed by a dash and year of death if applicable.

4. Indent five spaces on the line below the author’s name and write the title of the book. Under this write the publishing information and copyright date. On the line below this, write the number of pages, description of the book and whether it contains pictures or illustrations.

5. Write the ISBN number or Library of Congress number of the book on the next line. Write the subject of the biography on the line under that. Add a synopsis if you desire. Complete the title catalog card for your biography by again writing or typing the chosen indicator (B, 92 or 921) on the line below the subject.

References

• Graves k12.ky.us; Card Catalogs: How to find what you are looking for
• lili.org:LiLI Libraries Linking Idaho: Standard format for card catalog entry

Resources

• Libraryhistorybuff.com