PRECIS Preserved Context Index System Colin Smith LIS 417 December 2007

PRECIS History Derek Austin –1960’s: Research for CRG & NATO –1970’s: British Library Bibliographic Services Division New subject index for British National Biography needed –DDC lacked adequate level of detail –Interest in developing a system with human decision-making and computerized automation : Development 1974: Used for British National Biography Early 80’s: Height of popularity 1990: Dropped by British National Biography

Process Examine material Make descriptive phrases Analyze phrases Convert phrase into string Determine tags for Terms Enter into computer Computer makes entries Thesaurus maintained

Coding 103 field: lead terms 003 field: not lead terms 1st Position: –First element in coordinate theme: $x –Subsequent element in coordinate theme: $y –Element common to all themes: $z 9th Position: –Common noun : $a –Proper name: $c –Place name: $d Downward-reading connective: $v Upward-reading connective: $w Differencing Code, first digit: –Non-lead: 0 / 1 –Lead: 2 / 3

An Example Descriptive phrases –Twentieth century female jazz instrumentalists. Analyze –No action, hierarchical relationship String –Jazz instrumentalists – Women – Twentieth century Coded –$z $a instrumentalists $21 jazz –$z $a women $w as –$z $c twentieth century Entries –Jazz instrumentalists Women. Twentieth century –Instrumentalists Jazz instrumentalists. Women. Twentieth century –Women As jazz instrumentalists. Twentieth century

In Comparison Vs. LCSH –Freedom in assigning subject headings –Interrelation of the various headings Vs. DDC & LCC –Syntactical structure –Freedom in assigning subject headings

Comparisons PRECIS –Jazz instrumentalists Women. Twentieth century –Instrumentalists Jazz instrumentalists. Women. Twentieth century –Women As jazz instrumentalists. Twentieth century LCSH –Women jazz musicians -- Biography -- Dictionaries –Women jazz musicians -- Bibliography –Instrumentalists -- History -- 20th century -- Biography -- Dictionaries –Instrumentalists -- History -- 20th century -- Bibliography –Women jazz instrumentalists DDC –Music -- Instruments and their music -- Jazz -- Women

Pros and Cons Advantages –Flexibility More accurate entries Adapts to change more quickly Can handle multiple languages –Computer does part of the work Disadvantages –Requires a massive amount of careful work –Efficiency is debatable