Machine-Readable Cataloging Project

library science

Also known as: MARC II

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The Machine-Readable Cataloging (MARC) Project is a library science initiative that revolutionized how libraries catalog and share information about their collections. Before MARC, cataloging was a labor-intensive process, often involving handwritten cards. The advent of computers and the MARC format allowed for the creation of machine-readable catalog records.12

This system enables libraries to store, retrieve, and share cataloging data electronically. It facilitates the creation of online public access catalogs (OPACs), making it easier for users to search for materials. MARC has been instrumental in improving library efficiency and accessibility by standardizing the way bibliographic information is recorded and transmitted.2

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Vehicles for catalogs
…is demonstrated by the revised Machine-Readable Cataloging Project, known since its revision in 1968 as MARC II. Library users find no difficulty in consulting such on-line catalogs, and many prefer them to the more cumbersome, if more familiar, form of cards in drawers. Not only do they enable library patrons…
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…is demonstrated by the revised Machine-Readable Cataloging Project, known since its revision in 1968 as MARC II. Library users find no difficulty in consulting such on-line catalogs, and many prefer them to the more cumbersome, if more familiar, form of cards in drawers. Not only do they enable library patrons…
Read More