The function of a library catalogue is to retain descriptions of the items held by the library in such a way that the descriptions can be accessed and used effectively whenever an item needs to be retrieved from the collection. The function of cataloging is to build those descriptions and store them in a logical database (i.e. the catalogue) in such a way that knowing one part of the description allows the catalogue user to retrieve the entire description of the item.

This chapter describes the process of maintaining a Koha catalogue, including the process of tracking the actual acquisition of library items. It does not provide general cataloging rules -- for those, you should consult one or more of the many cataloging web pages available on the Internet (often maintained by the "central" or "national" library of a country). This chapter also does not describe the process of setting up "biblio frameworks" -- see Chapter One for that information. This chapter simply tells you how to use Koha for recording information about items as you order them, and then tells you how to place MARC records describing those items into your Koha catalogue.