Page 199 - DLIS002_KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGUING THEORY

Knowledge Organization: Classification and Cataloguing Theory

Notes

Notes Following the guidelines given in the scope notes and examples shown in the
subject heading lists will give the cataloguer an accurate idea of the possibilities that exist
in various subject areas and genres of materials. These options can then be used, keeping
the patrons in mind, to create the access points most useful for each individual library.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
1. The purpose of using a subject heading in a cataloguing record is to give the person
searching for items in the library a way to find information by the topics that are covered
in those items.

2. The most commonly used type of subject heading is a topical heading.
3. Library of Congress subject headings have only one option for these genre headings in the
category of music, so libraries have many from which to choose for their cataloguing.

10.2 Theoretical Basis

The most comprehensive tool for finding subject headings for any topic in a periodical index or
library catalogue is the official subject heading list for that index or catalogue. These subject
heading lists are sometimes referred to as an “authority file” or a “controlled vocabulary” list.
Most indexes or catalogues use some form of “controlled vocabulary” so that indexers (the
people who assign subject headings to each record) have a standardized list of headings to
choose from for each article, book or other document. Researchers can use this same list to find
the right search terms for their topic. Controlled vocabularies for many indexes are available in
book form and, for most online databases they can be accessed electronically.
The most useful controlled vocabulary lists, called “thesauri” (“thesaurus” is the singular form,)
include broader, narrower, and related terms, as well as indications of headings not used.
Thesauri are very useful to researchers because they:

1. Tell them under what headings a given subject may be found in the catalogue or index.
2. Direct them to other headings under which books or articles with related topics will be
found.

3. Break down broader subjects into subdivisions to aid researchers in limiting their topics.
One of the most extensive and commonly-used controlled vocabulary lists is the Library of
Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), which is used by most library catalogues. This list is available
in a five-volume set of large red books, usually found near the catalogue or reference desk in
most libraries. You can also access most of the LCSH information at the Library of Congress web
site by using the Subject search mode of the Library of Congress catalogue.

10.2.1 Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) Using the Library of
Congress Web Catalogue

Most of the subject heading information of the LCSH is available by using the Subject search
mode of the Library of Congress web catalogue. When you enter a subject word or words in the
box and click the Search button (or press Enter), a “Headings List” will be displayed in four
columns:

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