On the Theory of Library Catalogs and Search Engines, by Bernhard Eversberg is a fantastic in-depth look at OPACs & Search Engines. He says time and again, catalogs and search engines are juxtaposed in a pears vs. apples comparison.
The intention here is not to find out which is the better gadget but to show what differences exist. Not just librarians may be interested to get a clearer picture of strengths and weeknesses.
There is actually no competition, for catalogs and search engines cover different ground and cater to different needs. Most print material remains offline and thus inaccessible for harvesters, and on the other hand, many online resources have unprintable characteristics and thus could not be published in print.
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