In general, a union catalog can be defined as a ‘finding list’. Again, a combined list of the collections of many libraries is called a union catalog. The cataloging system is operated on the basis of an agreement made between a numbers of libraries to prepare a combined catalog. In this situation, they share the work of each other through a common policy. Therefore, it can be said that the real goal of joint work is a combined catalog.

What is meant by a union catalog?

Different people have defined a union catalog in different ways. They are discussed below:

According to BRUMEN, “union catalog means a list of the entire textual content of a certain number of libraries, including books or serial publications or both edition numbers, volumes and locations. It can be of any subject or size. Usually this list can be arranged by subject or by author or by order, national and national bibliographic organizations”.

According to K. Larson, “A union catalog is a cataloguing of the entire or partial material of two or more libraries in the same sequence.”

According to the ALA Glossary, “A union catalog is a catalog of all the proposals and selected books under a subject or a specific type of material in a number of libraries, carried out on a cooperative basis.”

Types of Union Catalogs:

Union catalogs can be divided into two types based on geographical location –

1. General Union Catalog

2. Special Union Catalog

1. General Union Catalog: A catalog that is not limited to any subject is called a General Union Catalog. Such catalogs can basically play an important role in cooperation at various levels. Their practical application is extensive and subject-based. Such catalogs are again of four types. Namely:

A .Local Union Catalog: A catalog that compiles the materials of a particular place or institution is called a Local Union Catalog. This catalog is made with the book materials of various departments of a university or its affiliated educational institutions.

B .Regional Union Catalog: When the book materials of libraries are cataloged on a regional basis, it is called a Regional Union Catalog.

C. National Union Catalogue: A national union catalogue is a catalogue of the internal books of a country. This national catalogue is the result of a complex process. It reflects the constraints of national culture and heritage and is implemented properly through cooperative efforts on a national basis. If the regional catalogues are properly prepared, there is no much difficulty in preparing a national union catalogue. In 1980, the Institute of Bibliography took the first step of preparing a national union catalogue. After that, of course, many developed countries of the world such as Britain, America, Germany, India, etc. have properly compiled the National Union Catalog.

2. Special Union Catalog: A union catalog that is dependent or limited on a subject, the nature of the subject, the type, the language, and the natural characteristics of the language, time and location is called a special union catalog. There are three types of such catalogs.

1. Limited to Subject of Research Union Catalog: A catalog compiled on one or more subjects is called a Limited to Subject of Research Union Catalog. For example, a catalog of all books on agriculture in the United States can be called a Limited Subject of Research Union Catalog.
2. Special Union Catalogue Limited to Types or Forms of Literature Catalogue: This type of catalogue is limited to the entries of books on one subject. For example – various periodicals published in foreign languages, government publications, various types of periodicals. For example – medical, technical, social sciences, information sciences etc. are called Special Union Catalogue Limited to Types or forms of Literature Catalogue.
3. Special Union Catalogue Limited Period: A catalogue that includes all the books of a particular period or era is called a Special Union Catalogue Limited Period. It is limited to a specific period, for example, the catalogue of all the books of Britain in 1988-99 can be called such a catalogue.

Union Catalog Preparation Method

The method of preparing a union catalog is different and the developed countries of the world follow different rules according to their convenience. Among them, the method followed by the United Kingdom is the most advanced and simple.

The central library of a country carries out all the responsibilities of preparing a union catalog. Here, the central library is considered as the representative or focal point among all the member libraries that will be included in the union catalog. And the member libraries of this central library follow all the laws and regulations issued or published from the center. Usually, the central library is determined at the center of the country and all the work of preparing a union catalog is carried out from this place. The method of preparing a union catalog is shown below through an 8 inch by 4 inch card.

The numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 on the card indicate the member libraries.

A blank card like the one mentioned above is sent from the Central Union Catalogue Office to a library marked with a number other than the name of a book or author. The name of a book in this library is written by the assistant author, the name of the author is written very briefly in their cell, the conservation edition is mentioned, and a tick is placed on it and the card is sent to another library near them. If the book is not in that library, then there is no need to write anything on the card. In this way, the card will gradually return to the Central Union Catalogue Office in different library cells. Then the Central Office arranges all these works in chronological order according to the name of the author. In this way, a survey can be made of what books are available in all the libraries of a country.

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