📚 Library Cataloging

Cataloging in libraries is the art of arranging books, resources, and other materials in a manner that would be accessible with ease. In simple words, it is to make an address for every book present in the library, which through a systematic structure enables the readers to find what they are looking for. It consists of the classification of materials by subject matter, author, or title; giving unique identification numbers, and all these go into the computer database of the library. It is a very monotonous job at times, which calls for much patience and precision in keeping everything in its place.

AI to Change the Conventional Cataloging of Libraries

Now, AI is coming in to shake things up. Rather than relying on human effort for cataloging, tools such as Talis Aspire and WorldCat have taken to AI and begun automating much of the process. These tools can read the content of books and automatically assign categories and metadata, even identifying related materials. This simplifies the work in large libraries where there are thousands, or even millions, of resources to manage, a nightmare for any librarian. The speed and accuracy with which AI tends to such repetitive tasks, like categorization, make it a no-brainer for libraries looking to keep up with today’s demands. Imagine how much faster your library could work with a tool handling all of those repetitive and mind-numbing tasks for you.

The use cases for AI in library cataloging go beyond sorting books. AI can aid in recognizing patterns and trends in what types of materials are in demand and can make recommendations for acquisitions based on usage. Even more, it can digitalize content, recognizing the content type and format, much more simply. Just think about how much more manageable things would be if your catalog system could practically take care of itself.

Our Recommendations and Alternatives

So, for this, you have a lot of options. For example, Talis Aspire does a great job for an academic library since the base of the work is reading lists and catalog integrations. Meanwhile, WorldCat helps connect libraries worldwide. Some open-source alternatives to Koha integrate cataloging with other services, and Evergreen is a great fit for public libraries. Consider what would reduce your effort, while not hampering your desired organization or integrity of your catalog.

Below is a category of AI tools that can fulfill this library cataloging use case and help take your system to a whole new level.