ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Shared Cataloging Program

A shared cataloging program is like sharing your toy box with your friends. When you have a lot of toys, it can be hard to keep track of them all by yourself. But if you share your toys with your friends, you can all keep track of them together and make sure everyone knows what toys are available to play with.

In the same way, libraries have a lot of books, videos, and other materials that they need to keep track of. A shared cataloging program is a way for different libraries to work together to create a list of all the materials they have in their collections. This list is called a catalog.

By sharing their catalogs, libraries can find out what materials other libraries have and borrow items from them. This is like borrowing your friend's toy for a little while. Additionally, it helps libraries avoid buying duplicate items, or books they already have.

The shared cataloging program makes it easier for people to find the materials they need, no matter which library they go to. So, just like how sharing your toys helps you and your friends have more fun, sharing catalogs helps libraries better serve their patrons and make reading and learning more enjoyable for everyone.