The functional characteristics of twenty online public catalogs in libraries in the United States are described. Database and technical characteristics, bibliographic questions, and costs also are briefly noted.
A new cataloging and information access tool for children's media is proposed, which combines the most useful aspects of library subject-heading lists and thesauri with some unique aspects, and meets for the first time the American Library Association recommendations for the subject cataloging of juvenile materials. Computer-based production of such a tool offers considerable economies and opportunities. A project is now under way to produce such a listing.