This paper reviews 19th and 20th century English-language literature dealing with the user friendliness of library catalogs and cataloging. Sections cover literature on: (1) the need for catalogs and the possibility of substituting subject bibliographies for the subject catalog; (2) user needs and the dichotomy between designing catalogs based on individual needs and the standardization of cataloging; (3) the basic purposes of catalogs and cataloging; (4) the advantages and disadvantages of various physical catalog forms, including card, book, and microform catalogs; (5) methods of arranging catalogs in dictionary or divided format and the comparative advantages of alphabetical and classified catalogs; (6) the content of catalog records, especially the amount and type of information included; (7) the nature of catalog entries, specifically the number and type of entry points for each item in the collection; and (8) the arrangement of alphabetical entries, i.e., in true alphabetical or alphabetico-classed format. It is concluded that the literature of the library catalog shows a concern for the catalog user but that the concern has been unsystematic and based on untested assumptions regarding user needs and wants. A review of 12 objectives of a user-oriented system, as enumerated by Dehning, Essig, and Maass, and the author's vita conclude the publication. (ESR)