What is a card catalog?

• A. A catalog in which entries are on separate cards arranged in a definite order.
• B. A shelf indexing system by color labels only.
• C. A digital database accessed by search terms.
• D. A loose-leaf list kept in a binder.

Answer: (A)

A card catalog is the traditional library system where each library item has its own card. Each card holds the bibliographic details—author, title, subject, call number, and location—and the cards are kept in drawers in a fixed order, usually organized alphabetically by author or title. You find a book by looking up the card, then use the call number to locate the actual volume on the shelves. This differs from a system that uses only color labels, which wouldn’t provide full bibliographic information or precise shelf location, and from a digital database accessed online, which isn’t physical cards. It’s also not a loose‑leaf list in a binder, which isn’t structured as individual catalog entries you can cross‑reference. The card catalog, then, is the traditional setup of separate, ordered cards for each library item.