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Library Classification and Cataloguing Theory

Notes Utility of subject heading lists

The cataloguer receives pre-prepared heading from the subject heading lists. These lists act
as a dictionary or collection of subject headings.
These lists provide guidelines to the cataloguer information of the subject headings. In
other words, the cataloguer gets the benefit of the expenence of many other cataloguers
from these lists.
The pre-prepared subject headings in these lists are according to the needs of the users.
Use of these lists can establish co-ordination and uniformity in the library catalogue.

Limitations of subject heading lists
Enough time and effort is required in collection and printing of these lists. Moreover,
separate lists have to be prepared for each language.
This procedure of forming subject headings is not very practical as the work of preparing
subject headings from these lists involves too much effort and time.
The subject heading lists are never complete and up-to-date because new subjects are intro-
duced every now and then. Hence, it is necessary to include these subjects in the list also.
General subject heading lists are not useful for the specialized libraries. This is the reason
for which separate subject heading lists are prepared for these libraries.

Sears list of subject heading
This list for use in formation of subject headings was printed in the year 1923. This list was initially
prepared for use in small libraries and later its scope was extended to small as well as medium size
libraries. This list satisfies the requirements of small libraries. Improvements have been made in
this list from time to time on the basis of the experience of the various libraries.

Did u know? The latest edition of, Sears List of Subject Heading was published in the year
1972.
The objective of this list is to keep the documents of a specific subject under a uniform subject
heading. Other than this, those headings are also given in this list after x, xx that are used for the
formation of 'see' and 'see also' subject directions.
The headings that are given under or after 'see also' can be used for selecting appropriate headings
for the related documents, which are to be catalogued. For example, following entry is given in the
list under the 'Catalogues, Classified' heading:
Catalogue, classified see also classification books
X catalogues, systematic; classed catalogues; classified catalogues; XX classification - books;
library catalogues.
Appropriate heading is selected from the above entry. If see also item is selected for the
subject heading, then see directions will be given from the headings after X.
Provision has also been made in this list for specific entry principle, sub-division of subject's
use of geographical names in the subject headings, plural forms of the headings, obvious
headings etc. At the same time, rules related to the use of normally popular words and
their relevance are also given in it.

13.3 Subject Cataloguing Concepts, Purpose and Problems

If we examine the principles of descriptive cataloguing, we find that they are concerned first with
objectives:

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