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Differences between catalogues

The catalogues we looked at on the previous page vary in the details they provide and in the range of functions which can be performed. They do however offer the opportunity to trace resources. Here you are using the existing systems for inter-library loan as a helpful way of allowing library staff to view each other's collections.

Some services may have automatic links to bibliographic service providers such as Talis or subscriptions to services such as Whittaker's Books in Print.

Go to the Northern Ireland catalogue http://opac.ni-libraries.net/cgi-bin/nireland.vps.sh and search under author for Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code". Look through the list and select the correct author. Follow the links and note that you can clearly see format, availability and reserve the item online. Compare this to the information available for the same book from your service.


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Differences between catalogues

Is this data enough for you to make a stock selection decision?

The information is a "snapshot" which tells you the number of copies, range of format, current availability but not demand. It will not tell you patterns of use.Check your answer

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