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

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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

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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

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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

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Types of Controlled Vocabularies

• Thesauri

– Used in indexes and databases

– Cover limited discipline or subject with greater specificity• ERIC• MeSH

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Features of Controlled Vocabularies

• One term or phrase for one concept• Formal syndetic structure of references• Identify relationships

– Broader terms– Narrower terms– Related terms

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Subject Heading Structure

• Main element (can be any subject)– Personal name: (Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616)

– Topical: (Art history; Motorcycles; Butterflies)

– Geographic: (Italy; Maine; Moon)

– Corporate name: (Microsoft; St. John’s University)

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Subdivisions

• --Topic--Place--Chronology--Form

– Art--Censorship– Art--Italy– Art--16th Century– Art--Catalogs– Art--Forgeries--England--20th century--Exhibitions

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Functions of Subdivisions

• 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 scopeHistory--France--19th century

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Free-Floating Subdivisions

• Widely applicable to many subject headings

• Save space in lists

• Sears: Commonly Used Subdivisions

• LCSH: Free-Floating Subdivisions

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List Structure

• Portraits

UF Portraiture

BT Art

Biography

Pictures

NT Effigies

Photography--Portraits

Self-portraits

– Law and legislation

– Private collections

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Application

• Art, Byzantine (May Subd. Geog.)

UF Byzantine art

Art, Medieval

Christian art and symbolism--To 500

Christian art and symbolism--Medieval, 500-1500– Greek influences

• Headings in Catalog:

Art, Byzantine

Art, Byzantine--Russia

Art, Byzantine--Russia--Exhibitions

Art, Byzantine--Russia--Greek influences

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ERIC Thesaurus

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Subject Search Models

• Specific-to-General (known-item search)

• General-to-Specific (subject/discipline search)

• Type-of-Literature (form)

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Specific-to-General Search Model

• 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

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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

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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

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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

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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