[Purpose/significance] Cataloguing of rare books is the core content and basic work of rare books’ preservation and conservation. Since the implementation of the "China Rare Books Preservation Project" for 13 years, great progress has been made in the cataloguing of rare books in Chinese libraries. At the same time, many problems are faced. These problems should be paid enough attention at the national level, and effective countermeasures should be taken in time to solve them as soon as possible. [Method/process] Through the analysis of these problems one by one, the deep-seated causes were excavated, and the ways and methods to solve them were put forward. [Result/conclusion] Finally, it is pointed out that the next focal point of the rare books’ preservation and conservation should be transferred to the special attention to the cataloguing of rare books. We should improve and perfect the cataloguing and publishing system of rare books, strengthen the training of rare books cataloguing personnel, strengthen the research and discipline construction of rare books cataloguing, and ensure that the rare books cataloguing is carried in a persistent way and with high quality.