Library of Congress Subject Headings

1. Library of Congress Subject Headings Lecture 8 Info 660 Daniel Stuhlman

2. Marc Review What is the 040 field used for? What part of a bibliographic record is the description? What MARC fields are included in the description? What fields are access points as discussed in chapter 21 of AACR2R?

3. Marc Review 2 5. What is a MARC indicator? 6. What are the commonly used indicators in the 245 used for? 7. What is the difference between the 600, 630, 650 subject headings.

4. Resources 1. Library of Congress Subject headings (LCSH) available on Classification Web (ClassWeb) http://classweb.loc.gov/ 2. Authority file – used for constructing most of the 6xx fields provides authoritative form of topical headings, name headings, and title headings 3. Cataloger’s Desktop. Follow link http://www.loc.gov/cds/desktop/ • Library of Congress Subject Headings (Nicknamed “Big Red book”) Library of Congress Subject Headings, 26th edition (2003) The 27th edition will be available in June 2004. Especially worth reading: General Subdivisions Free-Floating subdivisions Subdivisions controlled by pattern headings

5. Classification Web Main Menu

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7. What are Subject Headings? Subject headings are verbal labels that indicate the topic of a book. Subject analysis is the part of cataloging that indicates to the catalog users something about the intellectual content, form of the item or both. Subject headings lead library patrons to specific titles within the library collection, while gathering works on the same topic.

8. What are Subject Headings? II Subject headings work with classification. While an item may have only one classification number, it may have several subject headings analyzing the intellectual content from multiple aspects. Both group items on a similar topic, but they may take different approaches.

9. Reasons for Subject Headings • SH lead you to other books on the same, similar, broader, or narrower topics. • SH are controlled vocabulary used to describe the content of library items. • SH may or may not be words one would normally use to describe a topic. • SH try to keep up with modern conventions and usage, but sometimes are slow to change.

10. Subject Heading Traditions 1. If the bibliographic record has more than one subject heading in a record, the first one will be the one that has the closest correspondence to the classification number. 2. Usually records have one to three subject headings. Some books such as fiction do not routinely have subject headings. No more than 10 subjects per record 3. Choose the most specific heading that will cover the topic: ex. Cats verses kittens verses mammals 4. The first heading is the more important one or the first mentioned in the item.

11. Collocation The fact that subject headings gather works on the same subject implies authority. Each subject should appear in the catalog under one heading. Therefore, one uniform term must be selected from several synonyms. This term must be applied consistently to all works on this topic. An example of one concept that may be expressed a few different ways: Rugs, Turkish Turkish rugs Carpets, Turkish Carpets – Turkish

12. Subject Heading Systems General headings Sears Library of Congress Subject Headings Specialized headings Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) Canadian Subject Headings (CSH) LC Subject Headings for Children’s Literature National Agricultural Library Subject Authority AAS Subject Headings (science headings) All arrange their topics alphabetically.

13. Subject Heading Systems 2 • Sears—less precise, contains fewer terms, and is preferred for smaller libraries, (such as elementary schools) usually used Dewey Decimal Classification • LCSH—expands topic areas into many subdivisions, included numerous proper nouns as topics, usually used with LCC.

14. Subject Heading Systems 3 • Specialized systems are used to supplement areas not adequately covered by LCSH. For example Canadian Subject Headings add 6000 headings specific to Canada that are compatible with LCSH. • MeSH headings are used by the National Library of Medicine. They correlate to their medical classification. MeSH takes a different approach to topics than LCSH

15. LCSH 1 LCSH is a controlled vocabulary system that insures uniqueness and uniformity. A keyword index system has not control or uniqueness. There is no authorized code for the development of new headings, comparable to AACR2R for bibliographic records. There are many inconsistencies in the form of headings. There is no uniform hierarchy as in the MESH headings. For example the following are valid headings (last validated Feb. 29, 2004) Environmental chemistry Chemistry, Organic American poetry Art, American

16. Not a Thesaurus • Since it does not list all NT (narrower terms) or BT (broader terms) LCSH is not a true comprehensive thesaurus. Many headings do not list RTs (related terms) in a consistent manner. • LCSH is based on literary warrant: if a book is written on a subject, the heading will be established. LC is constantly adding to the list.

17. Application For topical headings (field 650) Such as : Petroleum, Broadband communication systems, Library education--California Catalogers may only use topical headings found in the authority file. If a heading doesn’t exist for the book one is cataloging then use a more general heading or several related headings, whichever designates most closely the topic of the work.

18. Application -- Names For names and title headings (fields 600, 610, 611, 630, 651): personal name, corporate name, conference name, uniform title, geographic names respectively. Catalogers may use these types of headings even if they are not found in the authority files. These headings must be in AACR2R format. For example: a book on Elizabeth Bowen. She is not in LCSH, however her name in AACR2R form may be used as a subject headings.

19. Subdivisions ($x = form or topical subdivision; $y = chronological; $z = geographic, $v = form) How to determine which subdivisions you may use? 1. Some subdivisions are indicated in LCSH. [but must be translated into MARC] For example: California – Climate. California—Description and travel. California – Description and travel – 1951- California -- Discovery and exploration -- Spanish. Explorers -- California -- Biography.

20. Pattern Headings It is possible to use subdivisions based on pattern headings. Pattern headings are a space savings device. Look in LC subject heading manual. H1146, 1147-1200. Cattle is the pattern heading for all domestic animals. This means that under Cattle LCSH the subdivisions are fully developed. These subdivisions will not be repeated fully under headings for other domestic animals, such as sheep, but the cataloger may use the subdivisions listed under Cattle for Sheep.

21. Free-floating Subdivisions There are 4 types: form; persons; corporate bodies; place names.

22. Summary Subject headings summarize the intellectual content and or form of the work. Choose intellectual content over form. Biography and fiction are examples of forms. Generally chapters do not receive subject headings. Instead choose a more general heading to cover the content. Assign subject headings for significant parts of a work when it makes up about 20% of the work. Do not assign a general heading and a specific heading. For example: a book on algebra would not get a subject heading “mathematics” in addition to “algebra” When a needed topical heading does not exist use a more general heading or several specific headings.