A catalog card describes a book so you can find it on the shelf: call number, author, title, publication details and notes. A library card is the membership card a patron shows to borrow books. Card Catalog Generator makes catalog cards only. It does not make membership cards, barcodes or check-out cards.
Key differences
| Aspect | Catalog card | Library card |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Describes one book so it can be found | Identifies a person who may borrow |
| Who it belongs to | The library's catalog | The patron |
| Typical fields | Call number, author, title, publication info, physical description, notes | Name, card number, barcode, expiration date |
| Size | 3x5 inches (7.5 x 12.5 cm) | Wallet size, like a credit card |
| Where it lives | A drawer in the card catalog | Your purse or wallet |
What about the card in the back of the book?
This is where most of the mix-ups come from. Older library books had a paper pocket glued inside the back cover holding a book card, sometimes called a check-out card or circulation card. It listed the title and author, with a grid of lines for borrower names and due dates. People often call that a "library card" too, especially in nostalgic crafts.
So there are really three cards:
- The catalog card, filed in a drawer, which tells you a book exists and where to find it.
- The book card in the pocket, which tracks who has the book right now.
- The library card in your wallet, which proves you are allowed to borrow.
Which one do I actually need?
If you want to record and find books in your own collection, you want catalog cards. One card per book, filed in a box, is the whole system. If you are making a prop, a party favor or a junk journal page that looks like an old library book, you are probably picturing the pocket book card with its due date grid. If you are setting up lending for a classroom or a little free library, you may want both: catalog cards to find the books and some way to note who borrowed them.
What does the generator make?
Card Catalog Generator produces a classic catalog card. You fill in Entry / Call Number, Author, Title, Publication Info, Physical Description and an optional Synopsis / Notes field, pick a font and background, and download a PNG or PDF at true size. It has no borrower grid, barcode or member name field. You can type anything you like into the fields, but the layout will always read as a catalog card.
FAQ
Is a catalog card the same as a card catalog?
No. The card catalog is the whole set of cards, or the wooden cabinet that holds them. A catalog card is one card in it.
Can I make a check-out card with the generator?
Not really. The layout has no lines for borrower names or due dates. For that look, a blank pocket card from a craft or library supplier is a better fit.
Why does a catalog card have a hole in it?
Library drawers had a rod running through the bottom of every card to keep them from being removed or spilled. The generator's Show Hole Punch option recreates that spot.
Create a catalog card
Use the free generator to design a printable library catalog card for your next book, classroom project, or home library.
Open the generator