Newsletter No. 418

No. 418, 19.5.2013 7 1970 s D o you remember how books in libraries were located in the olden days? First, you selected the right card catalogue cabinet and drawer by author or title, or number of strokes of the title for Chinese books. Second, you went through the cards for the book you wanted. Lastly, you proceeded to the relevant book shelf. If the book had been borrowed or misplaced, your previous effort would go to waste. With the launch of the efficient online catalogue, the card catalogue was discharged with honour. Today, you can look up books simply with a few clicks on your mobile device. Card catalogue cabinets, replaced by computers, are now often found in vintage furniture shops or eBay. 還 記得那些年是怎樣在圖書館的茫茫書海中找書的？先走進卡片 目錄櫃的方陣中，按作者或書名的字母或筆劃順序，鎖定有關櫃 子，再逐頁翻查，查到了，按卡上所列位置往書架找書。要是書本已借出 或是被錯置了，之前的一番工夫便白費了。電子圖書目錄系統出現，這些 書卡和卡片目錄櫃已完成其歷史任務，光榮退役。今天只需一部智能電 話，無論何時何地都可搜尋所需書籍。昔日的檢索區現為電腦區域，既 可檢索書目，亦讓用家上網找資料。舊式目錄櫃只可在古董家具店尋了。 2013