Cataloging is the practice of?

• A. Organizing materials for easy search and discovery.
• B. Verifying item prices.
• C. Assigning call numbers randomly.
• D. Archiving old materials only.

Answer: (A)

Cataloging is the practice of organizing library materials so they can be easily searched and discovered. It creates bibliographic records that describe the item with details like title, author, subject, edition, and publication info, and it assigns a classification and call number to show where the item sits and how to locate it. This systematic organization supports efficient searching by author, title, subject, or keyword and ensures consistent discovery across the collection. The other ideas don’t capture what cataloging does: it’s not about verifying prices, not about assigning call numbers at random, and it’s broader than simply archiving old materials.