Page 128 - DLIS405_INFORMATION_STORAGE_AND_RETRIEVAL

Unit 13: Subject Headings

Principles Notes
Like other subject heading lists, Sears requires the cataloguer to arrive at a clear concept of the
“aboutness” of a work as the first step toward selecting suitable headings. Sears subscribes to the
principle of specific and direct entry so that headings that are co-extensive and specific to the main
subject content of the work are assigned.
Direct entries ensure that the headings are entered on its own rather than subsumed under a
subdivision. Although technically, as many headings as needed could be assigned in case of multiple-
subject and complex works, Sears sees the practice of giving excess entries as a disservice to the
user, and abides by the Rule of Three, stated as follows: “As many as three specific subject headings
in a given area may be assigned to a work, but if the work treats of more than three subjects, then a
broader heading is used instead and the specific headings are omitted.”

Types of Headings
In favour of direct entry and natural language used by the user, Sears has converted all of its former
inverted headings into direct entries. There are four types of headings:
Topical headings: words or phrases for common things or concepts; American usage and spellings
are used, e.g., Elevators.
Form headings: reveals the form of the work, which is defined as referring to the intellectual form
of materials rather than the physical format of the item, e.g., Encyclopedias and dictionaries; Fiction;
Children’s plays.
Geographic headings: names of geographic areas, countries, cities, etc.
Proper names: personal, corporate names and uniform titles, e.g., Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
When more specific and narrow headings are needed, the scope of Sears can be expanded through
the use of subdivisions. These include: topical, geographic, chronological and form subdivisions.
As in the practice of using LCSH, Sears follows the LC recommendation for the standard order of
[Topical] — [Geographic] — [Chronological] — [Form] in applying subdivisions to main headings.

Application
The most specific heading authorized to represent each identified subject should be applied.
Use the most specific heading directly, not indirectly as a subdivision of a broader heading.
Generally, treat items first by topic, then by geographical focus or form, although some types of
subject are exceptions.
Use subject headings that represent major literary forms or genres such as POETRY and FICTION
for collections by several authors; do not use these headings for individual examples of the genre or
for collections by a single author.
Treatment of literary works:
Works about any of the literary forms consist of their names: POETRY, DRAMA, FICTION, ESSAY.

Newfoundland—Fiction.

Whenever the work is historical or critical, or both, the subdivision —HISTORY AND CRITICISM
is added to the main heading.

Science fiction—History and criticism.

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