Here's why:
* Comprehensive: The catalog lists every item owned by the library, including books, magazines, audiobooks, and more.
* Searchable: You can search by title, author, subject, ISBN, or keyword.
* Availability information: Most catalogs show you whether a book is currently available, on loan, or overdue.
* Easy access: You can usually access the catalog from the library's website.
Other helpful tools:
* Library staff: You can always ask a librarian for help finding a specific book.
* Interlibrary loan: If a book isn't available in your local library, you can request it through interlibrary loan from another library.
Note: Different libraries have different online catalog platforms, but they all offer similar functionality.