National Union Catalog, Pre-1965 Imprints; a cumulative author list representing Library of Congress printed cards for books, pamphlets, maps, atlases, music, and periodicals, and titles reported by other North American Libraries. London: Mansell, 1968-1981. (AA128)

I. Scope

As stated in the title, books, pamphlets, etc. Based on reported holdings from 1,500 major U.S. and Canadian contributing libraries without regard to subject, language or place of publication. Hence, some consider it either a nearly universal catalog or more certainly, our national bibliography.

II. Authority

The professional tool of choice for verification work in acquisitions, cataloging, collection development, reference, especially ILL, and research. "Compiled and edited with the cooperation of the Library of Congress and the National Union Catalog Subcommittee of the Resources and Technical Services Division, American Library Association," according to the title page. Initiated by Herbert Putnam in October 1901 with the distribution of LC printed cards and latter an annual $50,000 Rockefeller Foundation grant for Project B for 5 years, 1927-32; eventual total cost, $34,000,000.

III. Arrangement

Single alphabetical listing letter-by-letter by main entry for more than 20,000,000 LC catalog cards. With some added entries and see references. Note: the Bible, vol. 53-56 (BB104) which contains 63,000 entries and the 16 volume U.S. government publications: an author index (London: Mansell, 1981) which reprints volumes 609-624.

IV. Nature of Entries

Provides complete, authoritative bibliographic information: author, editor, compiler, translator, and illustrator. Title and subtitle. If appropriate, edition statement and number of volumes. Imprint giving place of publication, publisher, and date. Complete collation including total pagination. Notes and size, in centimeters. LC Subject Headings, LC and Dewey Classification Numbers, and ISBN, in most cases. Locations indicated by letter codes (usually three for the state, city, and library) originally worked out by Douglas McMurtrie.

V. Frequency and Cumulation

Register of additional locations (AA129), entries are arranged in order by Library of Congress Card Number.

VI. Format

Originally projected to be completed within ten years in 610 volumes; 754 large folio volumes (generally with 698 pages per volume); hardbound in permanent durable green buckram, acid-free paper.

VII. Relationship to Existing Works

Subsequent conversion to microfiche format, consolidating NUC's register of locations, subject catalog, and monographic series. Companion volumes for later imprints; audiovisuals; cartographic materials; microforms; manuscript collections; music, books on music, and sound recordings; and newspapers in microform. See OCLC, for more current holdings, which uses LC MARC records.