Final answer:
A card catalogue is a traditional method used by libraries to manage their collections, with separate cards for each item showing important bibliographic details.
Step-by-step explanation:
A card catalogue is a physical organizational system used by libraries to keep track of their collections. Each card in the catalogue provided bibliographic information about a single item, such as a book, which usually included the title, author, subject, and the location in the library. Traditionally, card catalogues were kept in small drawers, with each card representing a different item from the library’s collection.
There are typically three main types of cards in a card catalogue: author cards, title cards, and subject cards. This allows users to look up materials in multiple ways. However, most modern libraries have transitioned to online public access catalogs (OPACs), which serve the same purpose but through a digital format. Even with technological advances, understanding the concept of a card catalogue serves as an educational foundation to appreciate modern library systems and their development over time.