Title: The Use of Overseas Cataloging in Australia with Special Reference to library of Congress Cataloging
Abstract: LIBRARY OF CoNGRESS cataloging as a form of central cataloging has taken place of British cataloging in British coun tries, and in particular Australia. It. is, however, one library's cataloging, and on all important subject cataloging or in formation retrieval side, in its subject headings and their arrangement, it is, in its own words, the product of evolution ary forces from 1897 to date. Not all its headings are fittest to survive; they are not evenly up-to-date in choice, and they are inconsistent in form, so that for information retrieval they are a function ally inferior mixture. This paper does not propose to be an exhaustive proof of these propositions, nor is it result of an exhaustive study; it is rather evidence that there should be one-constructive as well as destructive of by-product central cataloging becom ing cataloging not only of libraries in its own country, not only of libraries fair ly contemporary with it, but also of new libraries-new bottles in which old wine turned to vinegar is being increas ingly poured; of libraries in foreign coun tries (which are however close, free world allies of America in every re spect).