card catalog
Plural
card catalogs
1
an alphabetically-arranged set of cards with information on them, found especially in libraries
- The library's card catalog helped patrons find books by author, title, or subject.
- She searched the card catalog to locate a book on ancient civilizations.
- The librarian updated the card catalog with new acquisitions from the recent book fair.
- Before digital databases, card catalogs were the primary method of organizing library collections.
- Students learned how to use the card catalog during library orientation to find resources for their research.
Synonyms: