The use of edge punched cards for registering library acquisitions

Abstract

The recording and registering of acquisitions is an indispensable activity in technical libraries and information centres. Records kept for this purpose must fulfil many demands beginning from the recommandation for accession and ending with the receipt of the ordered book. These records must be filed properly and arranged in a way which allows for the easy selection according to a great number of viewpoints. The common types of catalogue cards or slips in general use are laboursome and, owing to difficulties in selecting, frequently sources of errors. The use of single - or double-row edge punched cards may solve the problem. As the file of new accessions is most frequently used to identify the recorded publications during several working phases, the unordered storage of the punched cards, normally followed in most applications, should be avoided. The punched cards are arranged in alphabetical order by the author or the title of publications, while the additional view-points of selection are recorded on the cards by the usual notching. The principles of the construction of an edge punched card layout for registering new accessions and the possibilities for the differentiated application of cards of various size and capacity - corresponding to the existing demands - are enumerated. The methods of handling the card-system, as well as the work phases for establishing and keeping the files are also outlined. A few examples of card layout and simple code systems to be employed are also given.