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LCSH and Other Thesauri

April 6, 2005

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Overview Geographic subdivisions in LCSH Wrap-up exercise on LCSH Other thesauri:

Sears Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) [next

week]

Art and Architecture Thesaurus [next week]

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Form of the geographic name Use the form of the geographic name

as established in the authority file When the name of a place has

changed over the course of its existence, LC policy is to use the latest name Tea trade $z Sri LankanotTea trade $z Ceylon

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One subfield $z or two?:direct and indirect subdivision Direct: the geographic subdivision is

assigned in a single subfield $z, without interposing the name of a larger place.

General rule: for places at the country level or above, subdivide directly:Biological diversity $z Nepal

Economic stabilization $z Middle East

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One subfield $z or two?:direct and indirect subdivision (2) Indirect: the name of a larger place is

given in one subfield $z, followed by the name of a more specific local place in a separate subfield $z.

General rule: for places within a country, subdivide indirectly, with the name of the country in the first subfield $z:Housing $z India $z New Delhi

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Exceptional countriesThe first-order political divisions of: Canada (provinces) Great Britain (constituent countries) United States (states)…follow the topical element directly:

Education, Bilingual $z OntarioDance music $z ScotlandEnergy conservation $z California

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Exceptional countries (2)

When subdividing these entities further by a local place (e.g., city or county), the name of the first-order political division is interposed:Arts $z British Columbia $z Vancouver

Shipping $z England $z Thames River

Plants $z California $z Los Angeles

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Inverted headings for regions

Inverted headings for specific regions of countries (or first-order political divisions above), such as:Scotland, CentralChina, Southeast

are assigned directly after topics:Bicycle touring $z Scotland, CentralTemples $z China, Southeast

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Regions larger than countries

Jurisdictions or regions larger than a single country (or first-order political divisions above) are assigned directly after topics.

These may include historical kingdoms, regions of the U.S., and geographic features:Criminal law $z Holy Roman Empire

Hurricane protection $z South Atlantic States

Animal behavior $z Rocky Mountains

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Exceptional cities

Two cities, Jerusalem and Washington (D.C.), are assigned directly after topics:Manuscripts, Hebrew $z Jerusalem

Architecture $z Washington (D.C.)

New York (N.Y.) was formerly assigned directly, but is now treated the same as other cities:Baseball $z New York (State) $z New York

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Islands Islands present a number of complex issues

in subject cataloging! See H 807 for details. Names of islands or island groups generally

follow standard geographic subdivision procedures: Indirectly through country that has jurisdiction Or directly, if island is autonomous

Exceptions apply, relating to distance from a controlling jurisdiction, to islands in a group, to islands of the Caribbean, etc. See H 807!

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Antarctica Entities on the continent of

Antarctica or within the Antarctic regions are divided through Antarctica:Emperor penguin $z Antarctica $z

Antarctic Peninsula

Oceanography $z Antarctica $z Weddell Sea

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Levels of geographic subdivision No more than two levels of

geographic subdivision may be used in a heading:Education $z New York (State) $z Buffalo

not:

Education $z New York (State) $z Erie County $z Buffalo

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Levels of geographic subdivision (2)Do not divide topics geographically below the

level of a city or town.Assign additional headings to bring out city

sections, parks, streets, etc.Title: Going Hollywood : an insider’s look at power and

pretense in the movie businessMotion picture industry $z California $z Los AngelesHollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.)

not Motion picture industry $z California $z Los Angeles $z Hollywood

not Motion picture industry $z California $z Hollywood (Los Angeles)

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Subdivisions further subdivided by place: H 860, H 870

When a subject heading includes a topical subdivision, where is the geographic subdivision placed?

Preferred, when possible:[Main heading] $x [Topic] $z [Place] $y [Time]

$v [Form]

Sometimes necessary:[Main heading] $z [Place] $x [Topic] $y [Time]

$v [Form]

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Subdivisions further subdividedby place (2) Determine whether the topical

subdivision may be subdivided geographically:$x Labeling (May Subd Geog)

Use under types of products.

Farm produce $x Labeling $z United States

The subdivision $x Citizen participation may NOT be subdivided by place:

Crime prevention $z Ohio $x Citizen participation

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More than one topicalsubdivision SCM H 860: When combining a

main heading with a place name and more than one topical subdivision, place any needed geographic subdivisions following the last subdivision that is authorized for further subdivision by place.

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Example: multiple topicalsubdivisions

Heading:

Roads $x Design and construction $x Environmental aspects

Where would the geographic subdivision $z Illinois be placed?

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Multiple topical subdivisions (2)Authorized for geographic subdivision?Main heading: Roads YESFree-floating subdivision:

Design and construction NOEnvironmental aspects YES

Roads $x Design and construction $x Environmental aspects $z Illinois

but: Roads $z Illinois $x Design and construction

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Authority records: field 781 781 field conveys the same information in

the form in which it will appear as a subdivision in bibliographic records

The field can be found in nearly all subject authority records for geographic headings that may be used as geographic subdivisions

The field is also being added to name authority records for geographic headings

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Examples: 781 field

151 $a Belgrade (Serbia)781 _0 $z Serbia and Montenegro $z

Belgrade (Serbia)

151 $a Johnson Creek (Whatcom County, Wash.)

781 _0 $z Washington (State) $z Johnson Creek (Whatcom County)

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Golden Arches Eastsociety in East Asiaconsumers behaviorscultural anthropology researchglobal influence of culturesocietal/social changeMcDonald'scultural differencesethnographyAmerican culture

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Golden Arches East

Consumer behavior--East Asia.  Ethnology--East Asia.United States—Civilization.  Culture and globalization—East

Asia.McDonald’s Corporation.

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LC’s subject headings for Golden arches east

McDonald's Corporation.Fast food restaurants--Social aspects--

East Asia.East Asia--Social life and customs.

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The Professor and the MadmanOxford English dictionaryJames MurrayW. C. MinorVolunteer contributionsLiterary history2nd half of 19th centuryLexicography (LCSH: Lexicography)United KingdomInsanity (LCSH: Insanity [but legal aspects only])American Civil War (LCSH: United States--History--

Civil War, 1861-1865)

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LC’s subject headings for The Professor and the MadmanOxford English dictionary.New English dictionary on historical principles.English language—Lexicography—History—19th

century.Murray, James Augustus Henry, Sir, 1837-1915.Lexicographers—Great Britain—Biography.Minor, William Chester.Psychiatric hospital patients—Great Britain—

Biography.United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—

Veterans—Biography.English language—Etymology.

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Other Thesauri and Subject Heading Lists Sears MeSH Art and Architecture Thesaurus

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Sears List of Subject Headings Created by Minnie Earl Sears

(1923): List of Subject Headings for Small Libraries Based on subject headings in 9 small

libraries 2004 – 18th edition, H.W. Wilson

Co. Used by many small public and

school libraries in the U.S.

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Sears List (cont.) Created as a simpler alternative to LCSH Headings tend to be shorter than LCSH Has syndetic structure One volume – significantly fewer subject

headings Includes instructions, with examples, for

creating further headings as needed

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Sears List (cont.) If the name of a specific subject is

not found in the List, the name of the larger group to which it belongs should be consulted, e.g.,  Trees 

      Names of all trees are not included in this List but are to be added as needed, in the singular form, e.g., Oak; etc.

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Sears List (cont.)

Sears uses popular or common names, rather than a scientific or technical ones, where there is a choice, e.g., 

Birds not Ornithology  Fishes not Ichthyology

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Sears List subdivisions

Sears typically does not employ as many subdivisions as LCSH.  Usually one subdivision is used; rarely more than two subdivisions.

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Sears ExamplesBible 220

    The subject subdivision under Bible may be used also for any part of the Bible... e.g. Bible. O.T. -- Biography.     x Holy Scriptures; Scriptures, Holy.     xx Hebrew literature;          History, Ancient;          Jewish literature;          Sacred books

Bible -- Antiquities 220.9     see also Christian antiquities

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Bible entry in LCSHBible  [R S D]Works that discuss the Bible in a particular language are

entered under the heading Bible with the name of the language as subheading, e.g. Bible. English.

SA headings of the type [topic] in the Bible, e.g. Animals in the Bible

 Bible--Abridgments  [R S D]

[BS405-408]  [B L S D]UF Abridgments of the BibleNT Bible--Thumb Bibles  [R]

 Bible--Abstracting and indexing   (May Subd Geog)  [R S D]

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Sears Examples (cont.) LCSH:

Cookery.Handbooks, vade-mecums, etc. Pictorial works 

USE subdivision Pictorial works under names of countries, cities, etc., individual persons, families, corporate bodies, and under classes of persons, ethnic groups, and topical headings

Sears: Cooking.Handbooks, manuals, etc.    Pictorial works