Online catalogue prospects: a review

An online catalogue permits direct interrogation of the records composing a computer-held data base. Such catalogues are becoming established in housekeeping routines, as in catalogue maintenance and circulation control, but access to catalogue records for housekeeping is restricted to parts of a data base or short entries. Public access online catalogues eg using GEAC programs are becoming available. Advantages and disadvantages of public online catalogues over other physical forms are considered. Scope is indicated for further development and evaluation