The publication is a summary of the main problems associated with machine-readable cataloguing in modern conditions, and is a logical continuation of a series of teaching aids for bibliographic institutions of Russia. The course of lectures includes research materials of domestic and foreign specialists in the field of theory and practice of machine-readable cataloguing . The authors identified the most important components of cataloguing activities in accordance with their representations. The presentation of the material is built taking into account the transitional nature of the modern period of development of Russian libraries - from traditional cataloguing to fully machine-readable. Therefore, each topic is considered, starting with a small historical excursion, then the current state and further development prospects are presented. The publication was prepared by order of the National Information and Library Center "Libnet" . The course of lectures can also be used by students and postgraduates of library faculties of universities of culture as a teaching aid . Exclusively for infanata. org