New subject headings

Draft (Updated 2018)

Jump to field:

• 008/06
• 1XX
• 260
• 360
• 4XX
• 5XX
• 670
• 675
• 680
• 781
• 952

008/06 (Geographic subdivision)

Select one of the three options bellow.

When in doubt whether to authorize geographic subdivision for a given heading, select the No attempt to code.

More information: SHM H 364

May Subd Geog

Use for topics that have a geographic orientation, or that could be discussed in relation to a place or to a population in a particular location.

Not Subd Geog

Use for:

• General headings that correspond to free-floating subdivisions used under names of places

• Headings for general literary forms or genres

• Headings for literary or artistic forms established with regional geographic qualifiers

• Names of families, royal houses, dynasties
• Brand names
• Headings for which geographic subdivision is not conceptually logical

• Headings of the type [topic] in art, [topic] in literature, [topic] in mass media, [topic] in motion pictures, [topic] in music, [topic] in opera, and [topic] on television,

No Attempt to Code

Use for:

• Abstract or theoretical concepts

• Extended headings where geographic subdivisions are interposed

• Geographic features
• Named buildings, structures, etc.
• Named events, disasters, etc.

1XX  

Enter the text of the proposed heading in the 1XX field.

Subject headings can be coded 100, 110, 130, 150, or 151 (see Dividing up the world or SCM H 405).

260

General see references.

More information: SHM H 374.

360

General see also references.

More info: SHM H 371.

4XX

Provide references for equivalent terms and phrases found while conducting authority research.

List references in alphabetical order.

Justify the variant forms of names and alternate terminology in the 670.

Be sure that proposed 4XXs do not conflict with any existing heading or references.

When possible, rearrange the words of the new heading and its alternative forms so that additional 4XXs are provided under each significant word in the file position

Provide references from alternative spellings, word endings, etc, unless the only difference from the heading is the presence of a hyphen, diacritic, or capital letter (these forms normalize the same).

If the heading consists of a well known acronym or abbreviation, spell out the fuller form as a reference. If the heading is a fuller form that is also known by an acronym or abbreviation, make a reference for the with an explanatory parenthetical qualifier.

For headings established as [Topic A] and [Topic B] , make a 450 for the reversed form.

More information: SHM H 373

5XX

Make sure these are currently valid headings in LCSH. If they are not in LCSH, also establish them through a new SACO proposal form.

More information: HHM H 370

BTs (broader terms)

Make at least one BT when establishing a new heading.

Broader terms should be preceded with a subfield $w g.

Headings representing ethnic groups or named entities such as structures, parks, geographic features, etc., require broader term references of the "instance" type consisting of a generic heading subdivided by the name of a place (SHM H 375).

Narrower terms (NTs) are created automatically by LC.

RTs (related terms)

Make related term references to:

• Link two terms with meanings that overlap to some extent, or terms used somewhat interchangeably EXCEPT if they have a common broader term at any level of the hierarchy

• A discipline and object studied EXCEPT if both headings begin with the same word or word stem.

• Persons and their fields of endeavor EXCEPT if both headings begin with the same word or word stem

For each related term, a reciprocal 5XX must be added to the authority record for the heading being used as a reference. See documentation about changing existing headings.

670

There is no fixed number of citations necessary for a SACO proposal. The goal is enough research to indicate a consensus of usage in relevant sources.

Follow the citation format available here.

Provide the terminology and any variant terms, and definitions or descriptions found in the cited source.

More information: SHM H 202.

Work being cataloged

The first citation should always be the work that prompted the proposal.

Provide the LCCN, the main entry and title proper, and the publication date.

Precede citation with “Work cat.:”

Additional sources.

Where to search for authoritative information:

• General dictionaries
• General encyclopedias
• General indexes and thesauri
• Titles in the LC Database
• Topical reference sources and other authoritative works in the field in question
• Web sites, especially those of organizations associated with the topic in question

675

Cite sources that were consulted but do not use the term or any variation of it.

The 675 field is not repeatable. Multiple sources appear in sequential $a subfields, separated by semicolons.

More information: SHM H 202.

680

More information: SHM H 400.

781

More information: SHM H 830.

952

More information: SHM H 202.

LC Patterns

Cite a relevant and analogous existing LC heading as the pattern in the following cases:

• adding a new qualifier to a heading already analogously qualified

• non-free-floating subdivision under a heading for which an analogous pattern of usage exists.

• headings constructed according to a standard pattern, such as [Topic A] and [Topic B] or [Topic A] in [Topic B]
• headings using a parenthetical qualifier that has been used after other headings

• headings for topical use when the same heading already exists as a genre/form term and vice versa

Subject Heading Manual

Cite the Subject Headings Manual if the heading and/or its references are being established according to a pattern prescribed in a specific instruction sheet.

Use the abbreviation SHM.