diff --git a/python/pyproject.toml b/python/pyproject.toml
index a5b89f8..59162b6 100644
--- a/python/pyproject.toml
+++ b/python/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "space-datasets"
-version = "0.0.3"
+version = "0.0.4"
 authors = [{ name = "Space team", email = "no-reply@google.com" }]
 description = "Unified storage framework for machine learning datasets"
 readme = "README.md"
diff --git a/python/src/space/__init__.py b/python/src/space/__init__.py
index 639b3de..9f19cce 100644
--- a/python/src/space/__init__.py
+++ b/python/src/space/__init__.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 #
 """Space is a storage framework for ML datasets."""
 
+from space.catalogs.base import DatasetInfo
+from space.catalogs.directory import DirCatalog
 from space.core.datasets import Dataset
 from space.core.options import JoinOptions, Range, ReadOptions
 from space.core.runners import LocalRunner
diff --git a/python/src/space/catalogs/__init__.py b/python/src/space/catalogs/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5678014
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/src/space/catalogs/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Copyright 2023 Google LLC
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
diff --git a/python/src/space/catalogs/base.py b/python/src/space/catalogs/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..58c7341
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/src/space/catalogs/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+# Copyright 2023 Google LLC
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+"""Catalogs of Space datasets."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import List, Union
+
+import pyarrow as pa
+
+from space.core.datasets import Dataset
+from space.core.views import MaterializedView
+
+
+class BaseCatalog(ABC):
+  """A catalog is a container of datasets.
+  
+  Datasets in a catalog scope can be referenced by a dataset name uniquely.
+  """
+
+  @abstractmethod
+  def create_dataset(self, name: str, schema: pa.Schema,
+                     primary_keys: List[str],
+                     record_fields: List[str]) -> Dataset:
+    """Create a new empty dataset.
+    
+    Args:
+      name: the dataset name.
+      schema: the schema of the storage.
+      primary_keys: un-enforced primary keys.
+      record_fields: fields stored in row format (ArrayRecord).
+    """
+
+  @abstractmethod
+  def delete_dataset(self, name: str) -> None:
+    """Delete an existing dataset or materialized view.
+    
+    Args:
+      name: the dataset name.
+    """
+
+  @abstractmethod
+  def dataset(self, name: str) -> Union[Dataset, MaterializedView]:
+    """Get an existing dataset or materialized view.
+    
+    Args:
+      name: the dataset name.
+    """
+
+  @abstractmethod
+  def datasets(self) -> List[DatasetInfo]:
+    """List all datasets and materialized views in the catalog."""
+
+
+@dataclass
+class DatasetInfo:
+  """Basic information of a dataset or materialized view."""
+
+  # Dataset name.
+  name: str
+  # Dataset storage location.
+  location: str
+  # TODO: to include create time, type; it requires us to store these fields in
+  # entry point file to avoid openning metadata file.
diff --git a/python/src/space/catalogs/directory.py b/python/src/space/catalogs/directory.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41be0df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/src/space/catalogs/directory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+# Copyright 2023 Google LLC
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+"""Directory catalog implementation."""
+
+import os
+
+from typing import List, Union
+import pyarrow as pa
+
+from space.catalogs.base import BaseCatalog, DatasetInfo
+from space.core.datasets import Dataset
+from space.core.utils import paths
+from space.core.views import MaterializedView
+
+
+class DirCatalog(BaseCatalog):
+  """A directory catalog consists of datasets with location under the same
+  directory.
+
+  TODO: to build file system abstraction instead of directly using `os.path`,
+  for extension to more file system types.
+  """
+
+  def __init__(self, location):
+    self._location = location
+
+  def create_dataset(self, name: str, schema: pa.Schema,
+                     primary_keys: List[str],
+                     record_fields: List[str]) -> Dataset:
+    # TODO: should disallow overwriting an entry point file, to avoid creating
+    # two datasets at the same location.
+    return Dataset.create(self._dataset_name(name), schema, primary_keys,
+                          record_fields)
+
+  def delete_dataset(self, name: str) -> None:
+    raise NotImplementedError("delete_dataset has not been implemented")
+
+  def dataset(self, name: str) -> Union[Dataset, MaterializedView]:
+    # TODO: to catch file not found and re-throw a DatasetNotFoundError.
+    # TODO: to support loading a materialized view.
+    return Dataset.load(self._dataset_name(name))
+
+  def datasets(self) -> List[DatasetInfo]:
+    results = []
+    for ds_name in os.listdir(self._location):
+      ds_location = self._dataset_name(ds_name)
+      if os.path.isdir(ds_location) and os.path.isfile(
+          paths.entry_point_path(ds_location)):
+        results.append(DatasetInfo(ds_name, ds_location))
+
+    return results
+
+  def _dataset_name(self, name: str) -> str:
+    return os.path.join(self._location, name)
diff --git a/python/src/space/core/fs/arrow.py b/python/src/space/core/fs/arrow.py
index 34090b2..0dd66d8 100644
--- a/python/src/space/core/fs/arrow.py
+++ b/python/src/space/core/fs/arrow.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def create_dir(self, dir_path: str) -> None:
 
   def write_proto(self, file_path: str, msg: ProtoT) -> None:
     # TODO: the current implement overwrite an existing file; to support an
-    # to disallow overwrite.
+    # option to disallow overwrite.
     tmp_file_path = f"{file_path}.{random_id()}.tmp"
 
     with self._fs.open_output_stream(tmp_file_path) as f:
diff --git a/python/tests/catalogs/test_directory.py b/python/tests/catalogs/test_directory.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96bcec3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/tests/catalogs/test_directory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# Copyright 2023 Google LLC
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import os
+
+import pyarrow as pa
+import pytest
+
+from space import DatasetInfo, DirCatalog
+
+
+class TestDirectoryCatalog:
+
+  def test_crud(self, tmp_path):
+    schema = pa.schema([("f", pa.int64())])
+    pks = ["f"]
+    records = []
+
+    location = str(tmp_path / "cat")
+    cat = DirCatalog(location)
+
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError):
+      cat.datasets()
+
+    os.mkdir(location)
+    assert not cat.datasets()
+
+    ds1 = cat.create_dataset("ds1", schema, pks, records)
+    ds1_data = {"f": [1, 2, 3]}
+    ds1.local().append(ds1_data)
+
+    ds1_loaded = cat.dataset("ds1")
+    assert ds1_loaded.local().read_all().to_pydict() == ds1_data
+
+    ds1_info = DatasetInfo("ds1", ds1_loaded.storage.location)
+    assert cat.datasets() == [ds1_info]
+
+    ds2 = cat.create_dataset("ds2", schema, pks, records)
+
+    key_fn = lambda ds: ds.location  # pylint: disable=unnecessary-lambda-assignment
+    assert sorted(cat.datasets(), key=key_fn) == sorted(
+        [ds1_info, DatasetInfo("ds2", ds2.storage.location)], key=key_fn)