1. Subject Headings for Reference
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Subject Headings for Reference
Everything You Need to Know About Subject Headings in One Easy Lesson By
Dr. Nancy J. Becker
Presented by
Dr. Kevin Rioux
LIS 205/Dr. Becker & Dr. Vellucci/Spring 2004

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Library Catalogs
Provide information about resources of a particular library’s collection, including reference resources
Provide intermediary assistance for reference librarians
ensure important sources of information are not overlooked
free librarian from need to memorize all sources on every topic
Librarians have a limited capacity to remebmer all resources
LIS 205/Dr. Becker & Dr. Vellucci/Spring 2004

4. Controlled Vocabulary
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Controlled Vocabulary
Definition: Language that is carefully systematized for use in retrieval tools
Ensures consistency in use of subject terms
Aids collocation by subject in the catalog
LIS 205/Dr. Becker & Dr. Vellucci/Spring 2004

5. Types of Controlled Vocabularies
Subject Heading Lists
Used in most library catalogs
Broad in scope to cover wide range of disciplines and subjects
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
Sears List of Subject Headings

6. Types of Controlled Vocabularies
Thesauri
Used in indexes and databases
Cover limited discipline or subject with greater specificity
ERIC
MeSH

7. Features of Controlled Vocabularies
One term or phrase for one concept
Formal syndetic structure of references
Identify relationships
Broader terms
Narrower terms
Related terms

8. Subject Heading Structure
Main element (can be any subject)
Personal name: (Shakespeare, William, )
Topical: (Art history; Motorcycles; Butterflies)
Geographic: (Italy; Maine; Moon)
Corporate name: (Microsoft; St. John’s University)

9. Subdivisions --Topic--Place--Chronology--Form Art--Censorship
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Subdivisions
--Topic--Place--Chronology--Form
Art--Censorship
Art--Italy
Art--16th Century
Art--Catalogs
Art--Forgeries--England--20th century--Exhibitions
LIS 205/Dr. Becker & Dr. Vellucci/Spring 2004

10. Functions of Subdivisions
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To serve as a device for subarranging large numbers of records for works with the same main heading
History--Dictionaries
History--France
History--Periodicals
To render the subject more specific, i.e., limit the scope
History--France--19th century
LIS 205/Dr. Becker & Dr. Vellucci/Spring 2004

11. Free-Floating Subdivisions
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Widely applicable to many subject headings
Save space in lists
Sears: Commonly Used Subdivisions
LCSH: Free-Floating Subdivisions
LIS 205/Dr. Becker & Dr. Vellucci/Spring 2004

12. List Structure Portraits UF Portraiture BT Art Biography Pictures
NT Effigies
Photography--Portraits
Self-portraits
Law and legislation
Private collections

13. Application Art, Byzantine (May Subd. Geog.) UF Byzantine art
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Art, Byzantine (May Subd. Geog.)
UF Byzantine art
Art, Medieval
Christian art and symbolism--To 500
Christian art and symbolism--Medieval,
Greek influences
Headings in Catalog:
Art, Byzantine
Art, Byzantine--Russia
Art, Byzantine--Russia--Exhibitions
Art, Byzantine--Russia--Greek influences
LIS 205/Dr. Becker & Dr. Vellucci/Spring 2004

14. ERIC Thesaurus

15. Subject Search Models Specific-to-General (known-item search)
General-to-Specific (subject/discipline search)
Type-of-Literature (form)

16. Specific-to-General Search Model
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Begin with “known-item” search
Find bibliographic record for known-item
Note subject headings assigned to that item (tracings)
Initiate general catalog search using subject heading found on record
Search subject heading list using subject heading found on record to identify other related headings
LIS 205/Dr. Becker & Dr. Vellucci/Spring 2004

17. General-to-Specific Search Model
Begin with search in subject heading list
Find term for specific subject that is used by list
Note BT, RT, and NT
Search library catalog using controlled vocabulary subject term(s)
Locate specific items

18. Type-of-Literature Search Model
Enables systematic predictability of reference sources in all subject areas
Works well for finding reference resources for factual information
Uses main subject heading for the topic coupled with a subdivision for Form
Education--Encyclopedias
Baseball--Dictionaries
New Jersey--Road maps

19. A Few LCSH Free-Floating Form Subdivisions
–Atlases
–Bibliography
–Calendars
–Catalogs
–Chronology
–Computer databases
–Concordances
–Criticism, Textual
–Diaries
–Dictionaries
–Directories
–Discography
–Encyclopedias
–Handbooks, manuals, etc.
–Illustrations
–Indexes
–Periodicals

20. Remember: The library catalog can be used to find reference sources
Published guides to reference sources become dated when published, but Library catalogs are updated constantly
Subject headings can help you find reference sources on old and new literature without need to memorize all sources