Library Of Congress Subject Headings

by Chan, Lois Mai

• ISBN13: 9781591581567
• ISBN10: 1591581567
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-04-30
• Publisher: Libraries Unltd Inc

Summary

This book is the only comprehensive treatise on the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) system. The latest edition of this classic work provides a basic understanding of the ever-evolving Library of Congress Classification system and its applications. After introducing the classification and giving a brief history of its development, the author presents readers with the general principles, structure, and format of the scheme. She then discusses and illustrates the use of tables. The main thrust of the new edition is the updated of the text according to policies governing current practices in using LCSH, and the highlighted relevance of LCSH in the global electronic environment. Part 3, completely rewritten, will include a chapter on FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology), which is an LCSH-based controlled vocabulary for electronic resources.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
Part 1 Principles, Form, and Structure
1 INTRODUCTION	3	(14)
History	5	(4)
The Beginnings	5	(2)
Editions and Versions of the Subject Headings List	7	(1)
Auxiliary Publications	8	(1)
Assumptions about Function	9	(2)
Deliberations on a Code for LCSH	11	(1)
Impact of the Internet and the World Wide Web	12	(1)
Conclusion	12	(1)
Notes	13	(4)
2 BASIC PRINCIPLES	17	(26)
Introduction	17	(1)
The User and Usage	17	(3)
Literary Warrant	20	(1)
Uniform Heading	21	(5)
Choice among Synonymous Terms	23	(1)
Choice between Variant Spellings	23	(1)
Choice between English and Foreign Terms	24	(1)
Choice between Scientific (or Technical) and Popular Terms	24	(1)
Choice between Obsolete and Current Terms	25	(1)
Unique Heading	26	(1)
Specific Entry and Coextensivity	27	(6)
Specific and Direct Entry	27	(1)
Concept of Specificity	28	(5)
Internal Consistency	33	(1)
Stability	33	(1)
Precoordination and Postcoordination	34	(4)
Precoordination	35	(3)
Postcoordination	38	(1)
Notes	38	(5)
3 FORMS OF MAIN HEADINGS	43	(16)
Introduction	43	(1)
Functions of Library of Congress Subject Headings	43	(1)
Syntax	44	(2)
Single-Concept Headings	46	(4)
Single-Word Headings	46	(1)
Multiple-Word Headings	47	(2)
Choice between Nouns and Phrases	49	(1)
Choice among Different Types of Phrases	49	(1)
Multiple-Concept Headings	50	(3)
Compound Phrases	50	(1)
Prepositional Phrase Headings	51	(1)
Choice between Phrase Headings and Headings with Subdivisions	52	(1)
Semantics	53	(2)
Inverted Headings	55	(2)
Notes	57	(2)
4 PROPER NAME HEADINGS	59	(32)
Introduction	59	(1)
Personal Names	59	(4)
Names of Individual Persons	59	(1)
Names of Families, Dynasties, Royal Houses, Etc	60	(1)
Names of Mythological, Legendary, or Fictitious Characters	61	(1)
Names of Gods and Goddesses	62	(1)
Names of Corporate Bodies	63	(1)
Name Changes in Corporate Bodies	64	(1)
Other Individual Entities Bearing Proper Names	64	(3)
Animals	64	(1)
Historical Events	64	(1)
Prizes, Awards, Scholarships, Etc	65	(1)
Holidays, Festivals, Etc	65	(1)
Ethnic Groups, Nationalities, Tribes, Etc	66	(1)
Religions, Philosophical Systems, Etc	66	(1)
Objects Bearing Proper Names	67	(1)
Geographic Names	67	(22)
Jurisdictional Headings	67	(1)
Non-Jurisdictional Headings	68	(1)
Language	69	(2)
Entry Element	71	(1)
Qualifiers	72	(8)
Free-Floating Phrase Headings Involving Names of Places	80	(2)
Changes of Name	82	(2)
Geographic Headings Requiring Special Treatment	84	(5)
Notes	89	(2)
5 SUBDIVISIONS	91	(34)
Introduction	91	(1)
Topical Subdivision	92	(1)
Geographic Subdivision	93	(8)
Direct Subdivision	94	(2)
Indirect Subdivision	96	(4)
Summary of Procedures for Geographic Subdivision	100	(1)
Chronological Subdivision	101	(5)
General Principles of Chronological Subdivision	102	(2)
Forms of Chronological Subdivisions	104	(2)
Form Subdivision	106	(2)
Distinction between Form and Topical Subdivisions	107	(1)
Free-Floating Subdivisions	108	(8)
Definition and Application	108	(1)
Categories of Free-Floating Subdivisions	109	(7)
Order of Subdivisions	116
Order of Main Heading and Subdivision	117	(2)
Order of Subdivisions under the Same Main Heading	119
Notes	12	(113)
6 CROSS REFERENCES	125	(28)
Introduction	125	(1)
Equivalence Relationships	125	(9)
Synonymous Terms	126	(2)
Variant Spellings	128	(1)
Abbreviations, Acronyms, Initials, Etc	128	(1)
Different Language Terms	129	(1)
Popular and Scientific Terms	130	(1)
Alternative Forms	130	(1)
Different Entry Elements	131	(1)
Opposite Terms Not Used as Headings	132	(1)
Narrow Terms Not Used as Headings	133	(1)
General USE References	133	(1)
Hierarchical Relationships	134	(5)
Associative Relationships	139	(1)
General See Also (SA) References	140	(2)
Cross-References for Proper Name Headings	142	(7)
Personal Names	142	(3)
Corporate Names	145	(1)
Geographic Names	145	(3)
Headings for Other Named Entities and Events	148	(1)
Conclusion	149	(1)
Notes	150	(3)
7 SUBJECT AUTHORITY CONTROL AND MAINTENANCE	153	(20)
Introduction	153	(1)
Establishing New Headings	154	(12)
Procedure	154	(1)
Authority Research	154	(1)
Authority Records	155	(8)
Subdivision Records	163	(3)
Revising and Updating Headings and Subdivisions	166	(2)
The Authority File for Subjects	168	(1)
Notes	169	(4)
Part 2 Application
8 ASSIGNING SUBJECT HEADINGS	173	(28)
Introduction	173	(2)
General Considerations	175	(4)
General Policy	175	(1)
Sources of Subject Headings Assigned to Cataloging Records	175	(3)
MARC Codes for Subjects	178	(1)
Order of Headings on Bibliographic Records	178	(1)
Assigning Subject Headings	179	(7)
Scope Notes	179	(2)
General versus Specific	181	(3)
Duplicate Entries	184	(1)
Number of Headings for Each Record	184	(2)
Special Considerations	186	(14)
Works on a Single Topic	186	(2)
Multitopical Works	188	(2)
Aspects of Main Topics	190	(6)
Phase Relations	196	(2)
Topics without Representation in LCSH	198	(1)
Subject Headings Identical to Descriptive Access Points	199	(1)
Notes	200	(1)
9 SUBJECT CATALOGING OF SPECIAL TYPES OF MATERIALS	201	(86)
Electronic Resources	201	(8)
Computer Software	201	(2)
Databases	203	(3)
Computer and Video Games	206	(1)
Internet or Web Resources	207	(2)
Serial Publications	209	(9)
Abstracts	210	(1)
Annual Reports	211	(1)
Biographical Reference Works	211	(1)
Book and Media Reviews	211	(1)
Conference (Congress, Symposium, Etc.) Publications	212	(1)
Directories	212	(1)
Electronic Serials	212	(1)
Government Publications Issued Serially	213	(1)
Indexes	214	(1)
Periodicals and Journals	214	(1)
Reports	215	(1)
Society Publications	216	(1)
Statistics	217	(1)
Union Lists	217	(1)
Yearbooks	217	(1)
Lists of Publications	218	(10)
Abstracts	218	(1)
Bibliographies	219	(3)
Indexes	222	(2)
Catalogs of Publications	224	(4)
Lists and Abstracts of Dissertations and Theses	228	(1)
Reference Materials	228	(9)
Works about Reference Books	228	(1)
Bibliographies of Reference Books	229	(1)
Reference Works	230	(7)
Children's Materials	237	(6)
Topical Juvenile Materials	239	(1)
Juvenile Belles Lettres	240	(3)
Cartographic Materials	243	(2)
Nonprint Materials	245	(5)
General	245	(1)
Films	245	(3)
Non-Music Sound Recordings	248	(1)
Interactive Multimedia	249	(1)
Biography	250	(21)
Definition	250	(1)
Types of Headings Assigned to Biography	251	(1)
Subdivisions That Designate Biography	251	(2)
Collective Biography	253	(6)
Individual Biography	259	(7)
Special Types of Biographical Works	266	(5)
Works about Corporate Bodies	271	(4)
Corporate Bodies Discussed Collectively	271	(1)
Works about Individual Corporate Bodies	272	(1)
Name Changes in Corporate Bodies	273	(2)
Works about Buildings and Other Structures	275	(3)
Works about Specific Types of Buildings or Structures	275	(2)
Works about Individual Buildings or Structures	277	(1)
Works Involving City Districts, Sections, and Quarters	278	(1)
Works Related to Individual Works	279	(4)
Commentary versus Edition	279	(2)
Supplementary Works	281	(1)
Indexes and Concordances to Individual Works	282	(1)
Notes	283	(4)
10 SUBJECT AREAS REQUIRING SPECIAL TREATMENT	287	(116)
Literature	287	(28)
Types of Headings	287	(3)
Application	290	(25)
Music	315	(21)
Types of Headings	315	(4)
Application	319	(17)
Fine Art	336	(10)
Types of Headings	336	(2)
Application	338	(8)
Religion	346	(17)
Types of Headings	346	(2)
Application	348	(15)
Law	363	(19)
Types of Headings	363	(2)
Application	365	(17)
Source Materials in the Fields of History and Genealogy	382	(11)
The Subdivision -History	383	(5)
Genealogical Materials	388	(3)
Other Works of Interest to Historians	391	(2)
Archaeological Works	393
Types of Headings	393	(1)
Application	394
Notes	39	(364)
Part 3 Current and Future Prospects
11 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SUBJECT HEADINGS IN THE ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENT	403	(12)
Introduction	403	(1)
Subject Access in the Electronic Environment	404	(1)
Vocabulary Control in the Electronic Environment	404	(3)
The Potential Role of Library of Congress Subject Headings	407	(2)
Adapting to the Electronic Environment	409	(3)
Notes	412	(3)
12 FAST: FACTED APPLICATION OF SUBJECT TERMINOLOGY	415	(14)
Introduction	415	(1)
Reasons for Adapting Library of Congress Subject Headings	416	(3)
Developing the FAST Schema	419	(1)
Semantics	419	(6)
Topical Facet	420	(1)
Geographic Facet	421	(2)
Form Facet	423	(1)
Chronological Facet	423	(1)
Personal Names	424	(1)
Corporate Names	424	(1)
Meeting Names and Titles	424	(1)
Creation and Validation of FAST Headings	425	(1)
Authority Records	425	(2)
Application Syntax	427	(1)
Conclusion	427	(1)
Notes	428	(1)
Appendix A: Library of Congress Bibliographic Records with MARC 21 Coding	429	(12)
Appendix B: Free-Floating Subdivisions: Form and Topical	441	(4)
Appendix C: Free-Floating Subdivisions: Names of Persons	445	(4)
Appendix D: Free-Floating Topical Subdivisions: Names of Places	449	(6)
Appendix E: General Reference Sources Used in Establishing Headings	455	(2)
Appendix F: First-Order Political Divisions of the Exceptional Countries	457	(4)
Appendix G: MARC 21 Coding for Subject Information	461	(32)
Appendix H: Abbreviations	493	(8)
Appendix I: Capitalization	501	(8)
Appendix J: Punctuation	509	(4)
Glossary	513	(12)
Bibliography	525	(12)
Index	537