and is preceded by the first letter of the author's name. For instance, Bancroft's History of the United States is marked 973—8, to distinguish it from Hildreth's, which is 973—H. The books are arranged under each class head by these letters. The subject catalogue cards are arranged not alphabetically, but numerically, according to the class numbers 001 to 999, It will be noticed that there is often a red number over the blue one on the subject card. This is a cross reference, and means that although the book stands under the blue number on the shelf, and deals primarily with the subject which that number indicates, as 973, United States history, it may also, as a whole or in part, refer to another subject. For instance, a chapter giving a biographical sketch of a man may appear on a card with a red number, 92 (a shortened form of 920, which stands ' for biography) above the blue number, 973. This is to give it a place in the catalogue with other biog raphies, but the red number is to be ignored in looking for the book on the shelf. The new arrangemerit is to be a dictionary catalogue; that is, the subject cards are to be added to the author catalogue. The names of the subjects are written in, red ink at the top of the cards, which are filed in one alphabet with the author cards. The titles of books are also included in the alphabet, so that the cards may read thus, " Bancroft (author), Basis of Social Relations (title), Beetles (subject, red)," and author, title or subject may. be found by simply following the alpha beted cards until the first letter of the name is reached. Only a few subject cards have as yet been inserted into the author catalogue which stands next the reading-room door, and until the work of changing is completed, the subjects must be found in the subject catalogue by the use of the guides be fore referred to. Articles in the magazines upon the various subjects of debate may be found by reference to Poole and to the cumulative in dex, which stand upon the top of the catalogue case. The principle is that of the dictionary catalogue, and author, title and subject will be found arranged in one alphabet by their The Card Catalogue.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers