I do remember the first time I figured out how to use the
sprawling card catalog in the Woodbury (NJ) Public Library, late 1950s.
Don’t remember how old I was, I guess I was in 7th
or 8th grade….the light bulb went on for me, I was creating knowledge with the
card catalog on my own, researching references for some homework project.
I felt empowered and I felt liberated, I was questing with
my hands and with my mind, with a pencil in my mouth and a wad of index cards….
The memory is high contrast in the gallery of my hodgepodge
of recollections, it feels like it was lots better than it is today, but of
course it wasn’t.
I get a surge every time I Google search for something and
get more interesting hits than I could ever pursue in my remaining span of
years.
Verily, the card catalog is ancient history. The Online
Computer Library Center (OCLC) announced recently that it has stopped printing
hard-copy catalog cards for worldwide distribution after a run of more than 100
years. They’re not going to make ‘em like that anymore.
The card catalog wasn’t better than Google, but once upon a
time I owned that baby in the Woodbury Public Library.
Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2015 All rights reserved.
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