Artificial Intelligence is transforming every profession, and librarianship is no exception. With Custom GPTs in ChatGPT, you can now create specialized AI assistants that perform targeted professional tasks. A Custom GPT is not a generic chatbot—it’s a tuned version of ChatGPT designed with specific instructions, reference data, and workflows to carry out specialized jobs efficiently.
I’ve built one such assistant, called Click and Catalogue Books, specifically for librarians and cataloguers. It automates the complete process of book cataloguing—from classification to MARC record generation—by using the power of AI.
What Makes Click and Catalogue Books Unique
This Custom GPT replicates the intellectual process of a professional cataloguer in seconds. Here’s what it does step by step:
- Identifies bibliographic data from photos of the Title page and Verso page.
- Classifies the book using the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system. It analyses the subject, determines the correct class number, and provides it with precision.
- Generates a Cutter number to represent the main entry (usually the author).
- Synthesizes the call number by combining the DDC class number and the Cutter number—an operation that typically takes a trained cataloguer several minutes. Here, AI completes it instantly.
- Assigns subject headings based on the Sears List of Subject Headings, ensuring standardization and consistency in subject access.
- Displays metadata in AACR II format, including author, title, edition, publication details, physical description, and subject entries.
- Generates a complete MARC record, ready for download and direct upload to your Library OPAC.
What once took hours of manual analysis and data entry is now handled in seconds with remarkable accuracy.
Traditional cataloguing is a time-consuming process that requires specialized knowledge of AACR II, DDC, Sears List, and MARC standards. Many small or rural libraries lack trained cataloguers or cannot afford expensive automation software.
Click and Catalogue Books bridges this gap by providing:
- Instant cataloguing from mobile devices
- Reduced cataloguing backlog for new acquisitions
- Accurate and standardized metadata
- Interoperability with OPAC and library management systems
- Support for non-technical staff in rural and small institutional setups
The GPT acts like a virtual cataloguer—fast, reliable, and accessible from anywhere.
How to Use Click and Catalogue Books
- Open the ChatGPT app on your mobile phone.
- Tap Explore GPTs and select Click and Catalogue Books or go directly to:
https://chatgpt.com/g/g-6909a9715c808191862570c20599a968-click-and-catalogue-books - Take clear photos of the Title page and Verso page of the book.
- Submit them to the GPT.
- In a few seconds, you’ll receive:
- DDC class number
- Cutter number
- Synthesized call number
- Standard subject headings (Sears)
- AACR II metadata display
- Complete MARC record ready for download
You can then download the MARC file and upload it directly into your Library OPAC or cataloguing module.
A Step Toward AI-Integrated Librarianship
This Custom GPT is more than a tool—it’s a practical example of how AI can assist librarians in core professional tasks. It merges cataloguing standards, bibliographic intelligence, and natural language understanding into one seamless workflow.
Click and Catalogue Books shows that cataloguing no longer has to be a slow, manual process. AI now performs hours of intellectual work in seconds, with consistency and accuracy.