Which term describes the listing that helps locate materials in a library's holdings?

Which term describes the listing that helps locate materials in a library's holdings?

• A. Explanatory note
• B. Index
• C. Video-recording
• D. Shelf list

Answer: (D)

In a library, the tool that shows where items sit in the building is the shelf list. This listing is organized by the items’ call numbers and locations, guiding you to the exact shelf and position where a specific book or material can be found. It turns a catalog search into a physical retrieval by translating the catalog record into real-world placement within the stacks. Explanatory notes, while useful for clarifying content, aren’t about location. An index helps you search for topics, names, or subjects within a resource or across many resources, rather than pointing you to a physical spot in the library. A video-recording is simply a format or medium, not a listing of where holdings are kept.

In a library, the tool that shows where items sit in the building is the shelf list. This listing is organized by the items’ call numbers and locations, guiding you to the exact shelf and position where a specific book or material can be found. It turns a catalog search into a physical retrieval by translating the catalog record into real-world placement within the stacks.

Explanatory notes, while useful for clarifying content, aren’t about location. An index helps you search for topics, names, or subjects within a resource or across many resources, rather than pointing you to a physical spot in the library. A video-recording is simply a format or medium, not a listing of where holdings are kept.