Q. What is a catalogue?

A catalogue (or catalog) is a list or record of items held in a collection - for example, a catalogue for items available within a store for purchase, a list of resources available from a library, etc.

A Library catalogue is a register of all items held within a library or information service. A Library catalogue is usually an online bibliographic database that is searchable using different fields or types of information (eg title, general keyword, author, subject, resource format, etc).

It may sometimes be referred to as an OPAC (online public access catalogue). The catalogue or OPAC is a public searchable interface, usually web based, for a library management system (LMS). An LMS will also manage other aspects of library business - eg registering borrowers, issuing loans and returns of loans, cataloguing resources, tracking purchasing, stocktake and so on.

Items listed in a Library catalogue may be physical items held in a collection (books, journals, DVDs, newspapers, kits, etc) or electronic (online) resources (ebooks, ejournals, research databases, etc). The records in the catalogue will often provide information about availability or links and features such as placing holds or reservations on physical items already on loan.

Sometimes a group of libraries will share a catalogue - eg most Queensland Health libraries share a catalogue.

Cairns Hospital Library & Knowledge Centre and Mackay Hospital & Health Service Library have separate catalogues.

If you need help searching LKC catalogue, see instructions below.