The bibliographic record and information technology: 2nd Edition, by Ronald Hagler, 1991 (Adamantine Press), 331 pp (Hardcover Book, £32.50, ISBN 0744900379

When patrons use a library catalogue, they seek information without regard to the library's cataloguing technology. It is crucial then that bibliographic records provide complete, detailed information on "each" item no matter what process or media format is in place. Picking up where the last edition left off, "The Bibliographic Record and Information Technology" is a comprehensive text on creating clear and complete bibliographic records. This edition includes information on computerized cataloguing formats, authority controls and the current practices in creating, formatting and maintaining bibliographic records. Storing and communicating information on library holdings and accessible materials is the most general purpose of the bibliographic record. In every sense, it is the real "gateway" to library information. But creating an uncomplicated record that can be used and manipulated by both library staff and patrons alike is a continual challenge. This book links the process of creating and formatting the bibliographic record with interactive information technology. This updated edition reflects trends in technology and, more specifically, reflects the quantum leap away from manual cataloguing to the kind of machine assisted cataloguing that transforms bibliographic records into the information "gateways" they are meant to be.