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Unit 9: Cataloguing and Subject Indexing: Principles and Practices

• Form subdivisions specify a particular type or form of publication. They tell you about a Notes
book’s type rather than its subject. For example:
MASS MEDIA — DICTIONARIES
MASS MEDIA — HANDBOOKS, MANUALS, ETC.
• Chronological subdivisions narrow the subject to a specific date or time period. They are
commonly seen when dealing with historical subjects. For example, when searching for infor-
mation on any aspect of American history, always start with UNITED STATES — HISTORY
and then add a chronological subdivision such as:
UNITED STATES — HISTORY — 19TH CENTURY
UNITED STATES — HISTORY — 1865-1877

9.5 Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)

A Controlled Vocabulary
Now that you know a little bit about sub-ject headings, you may wonder where they come from. Who
decides on the exact word(s) and subdivisions that become an officially approved subject heading?
These decisions are made by specialists, known as cataloguers, who work for the largest library in the
world: the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Almost every library in the United States uses
the subject headings decided upon by cataloguers at the Library of Congress.
In order to be consistent in their work, cataloguers assign subject headings chosen from a
standardized, official list. This list of approved subject terms is known as a controlled vocabulary.
The controlled vocabulary used by cataloguers at the Library of Congress is known as the Library
of Congress Subject Headings, or simply LSCH.
Why should a controlled vocabulary system matter to you, the researcher? Simply stated, if you
pay attention to subject headings, you can take advantage of the order and precision it attempts to
bring to the database. Although the formal language used in subject headings can sometimes lead
to problems when doing subject searching—i.e., you may not be able to “guess” the correct term(s)—
you should at least be aware of the existence and purpose of controlled vocabularies.

Classification Systems

As you know, libraries organize their collections according to subject matter. This arrangement is
intended to be convenient for library users, since books on the same subject are placed together on the
same shelf. But in order for subject-based organization to accomplish its goals, it must be based on a
definite and established plan that can be referred to again and again. Therefore, libraries have created
classification systems.

A classification system is an established plan that divides all knowledge into precise
categories and subcategories. Each category is called a “class” and each subcategory
is called a “division” or “subdivision.” This division of knowledge always proceeds
from general classes to more and more specific subdivisions.
Although, most public libraries use the Dewey Decimal system, most college and university libraries
(including CSM) use a different classification system: the Library of Congress classification system.
Devised in 1897, the Library of Congress system (or LC system) is a comprehensive, highly detailed,
subject-based organization system that uses combinations of letters and numbers to represent subject
areas.

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