Library of Congress Subject Headings LCSH

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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
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Outline

• LCSH brief introduction
• Headings
• Syndetic structure
• Subdivisions
• LCSH and MARC

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Subject Heading lists

• Have three major components
• The terminology or the vocabulary
• The semantic structure, that is, the
  interrelationships between individual terms
• The principles, policies and techniques for
  creating and assigning subject headings

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LCSH

• Is a list of terms authorized by the Library of
  Congress for use in its own subject cataloguing
• Originally developed by the Library of Congress
  (first published in 1914)
• Aimed to facilitate standardization and
  consistency within and among American libraries
• Is based on literary warrant

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LCSH

• Constantly updated
• Available
• Online (Classification Web)
• Print (5 vol. Annually)
• Weekly lists
• 27th edition has been published in 2004
• Using LCSH is part of subject cataloguing

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1) Headings

• Topical
• Listed in LCSH
• Created e.g. events, places
• War of the Pacific, 1879-1884
• Grado Lagoon (Italy)
• Name or title see AACR2R
• Jimmy Carter, not James Earl Carter
• Scope notes define heading
• e.g. College musicals   (May Subd Geog) Here are
  entered musicals, reviews, etc., by college or
  university students for production and
  performance by students.

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2) Syndetic structure

• UF used for
• USE
• BT broader term
• NT narrower term
• RT related term
• SA general see also
• e.g. Library science

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Library science   (May Subd Geog)
UF Librarianship  Libraries--Administratio
n  Libraries--Organization  Library
economy BT Documentation Information
Science RT Bibliography NT ClassificationBooks
Library science Communication in library
science  Comparative librarianship
International librarianship medical
librarianship Music librarianship
Serials librarianship  
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3) Subdivisions Sources

• Listed
• e.g. Libraries Taxation Law and legislation
• Free-floating
• e.g. Libraries
  SA subdivision Library
  under names of individual persons, families, and
  corporate bodies

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3) Subdivisions types

• Topical
• e.g. Libraries Accounting
• Form
• e.g. Libraries Book lists
• Chronological
• e.g. Libraries History To 400
• Geographic
• Publishers and publishing (May Subd Geog)

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3) Subdivisions Geographic

• Libraries Canada
• Libraries Cultural programs Brazil
• Libraries Michigan Automation Directories
• Libraries Michigan Detroit
• Libraries Quebec (Province) Montreal
  History
• Libraries Scotland Glasgow
• Libraries United States Automation

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Order of subdivisions

• Main heading Topical subdivision Geographic
  subdivision -- Chronologic subdivision Form
  subdivision
• Example Libraries Aims and objectives
  Japan 19th century Congresses
• There are variations to this pattern depending on
  the designation (May Subd Geog)
• Example Art Italy Naples Exhibitions
• If the designation follows the topical, period or
  form subdivision, the geographic subdivision
  follows the other subdivision,
• Example Teachers Training of Canada
  bibliography

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4) LCSH and MARC

• 600 ?0 personal name
• 610 ?0 corporate name
• 611 ?0 meeting name
• 650 0 topical heading
• 651 0 geographic heading

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LCSH headings in MARC

• 600 10 a Martin, Paul, d 1938-
• 610 20 a Canadian Association of Law Libraries
• 611 20 a Conference on how to capitalize on
  research
• 650 0 a Digital libraries
• 651 0 a France

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4) LCSH and MARC

• Subdivisions
• v form
• x general/topical
• y chronological
• z geographic

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245 00 a Library history research in America
including a bibliography ... 610 20 a American
Library Association. b Library History Round
Table. 650 _0 a Library science x History.
650 _0 a Libraries x History y 20th century.
650 _0 a Libraries z United States. 650 _0 a
Libraries and society x History. 650 _0 a
Library science v Bibliography ...
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Subject Authority Record

• An authority record is a tool used by librarians
  to establish forms of names (for persons, places,
  meetings, and organizations), titles, and
  subjects used on bibliographic records.
• It is available on http//authorities.loc.gov
• Includes subject authority headings

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A subject authority record
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Some tips for assigning subject headings to works

• Analyze the title into subfacets
• Search for subfacets in LCSH
• Check different variations of a term e.g.
  literary vs. literature
• Remember to check free floating subdivisions
  most titles have subfacets that can be
  represented using free floating subdivisions

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LCSH assignment

• Up to 4 subject headings to be assigned to each
  example
• Most examples need one or two subject headings
• Ensure that you have covered the key facets of
  the example

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LCSH user interface

• Structured SHs
• Railroads--Zaire Railroads--Zambia R S
  Railroads--Zimbabwe R S Railroads, Aerial
  Railroads and earthquakes Railroads and state
  (May Subd Geog) R S

• Unstructured SHs
• Railroads--Advertising Railroads, Aerial
  Railroads--Africa, East Railroads--Africa,
  Northeast Railroads--Air-brakes
  Railroads--Airspace utilization Railroads and
  earthquakes Railroads and state