Should the catalogue entries be written or typed on good cards, inconvenient to paste down, or which it is desired to preserve, they can be numbered consecutively and strung together for the printer; anything upon them not meant to be printed being marked out, including in this case also the headings of second and subsequent entries under a single heading and an author's name.
Whether sent on separate cards or as pasted sheets, each entry must be marked for the sizes and styles of type the printer is to use. The following is a convenient and recognised method of doing this:--
For CAPITALS underline three times in black ink.
For SMALL CAPITALS underline twice in black ink.
For _Italics_ underline once in black ink.
For =Clarendon=, =Antique=, or other heavy type underline as before but in red.
For smaller type than the body of the catalogue mark the portions down the margin with a vertical line.
Various considerations enter into the question of the style or "get-up" (i.e., size, types, paper, binding) of the catalogue. In all rate-supported libraries the foremost of these is the expense involved. Owing to the disconnected nature of catalogue entries the setting is somewhat troublesome work for the compositor, and, taking longer time than straightforward work, costs more, though the modern type-setting machines, Linotype and Monotype, have facilitated the work. It is a well-known fact in connection with public libraries that the public will not pay more than a merely nominal sum for a catalogue, and certainly nothing approaching the cost of printing--to be compelled to sell a catalogue for 6d. which cost 1s. 6d. or 2s. per copy to produce is a common experience. Sometimes the difference in cost is made good by advertisements, though this is an unreliable source of revenue. Advertisers do not regard a catalogue as a good medium for this purpose owing to the small number in an edition; the fact that it is in constant use does not weigh much with them. If advertisements can be dispensed with so much the better, as they detract from the appearance of a catalogue even if they do not actually disfigure it. The extent of the library catalogued also enters into the matter. A small one not requiring a large catalogue can use larger type in printing, though a small library and a small income often go together, when strict economy has to be exercised. Again there is the question of including the books of the reference department in the catalogue, making it a general one, which adds to its bulk and cost. The reference books having to be used upon the premises are quite sufficiently brought under notice by means of the card or sheaf form of catalogues, typewritten or in manuscript, now in general use, though it may be desirable for a newly-established library to have a complete catalogue of all departments. Those persons who understand a "reference department" to consist of a few directories, dictionaries, and almanacks, may thus learn that it comprises much more. The extent of the collection also affects this, as it is desirable, if not actually necessary, that the printed catalogue shall be kept within such limits as to be portable, and in a single volume, because some people prefer to have their own copies rather than make use of those provided in the library, and others make their choice of books solely at home. All this applies more especially to the catalogues of lending libraries, as, generally speaking, printed catalogues of reference libraries are seldom seen nowadays--they are more of a luxury than a necessity.