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Library of Congress Subject Headings Editorial Meetings Announcements

Compiled by UC San Diego RMPS

  

2015 -- List 2
February 16, 2015

SUBJECT HEADINGS

 Announcement -- FYI

 Subfield coding in the 682 field

 In order to better support automated linking, the Policy and Standards Division has revised its policy on the coding of the 682 field (Deleted Heading Information) of cancelled LCSH, Children’s Subject Headings, LCGFT, and LCMPT authority records.              

Currently, the LCCN of the heading that replaces the one being cancelled is coded in subfield $i, which is intended for explanatory text, not control numbers. Going forward, all LCCNs should be coded in $0, which is repeatable. Each LCCN must be preceded by LC’s organization code, DLC. The LCCNs will now appear as follows.

682 ## $i This authority record has been deleted because the heading is covered by the subject heading $a [heading] $0 (DLC)shXXXXXXXXXX

682 ## $i This authority record has been deleted because the subject heading is covered by an identical name heading $0 (DLC)n XXXXXXXXXX

682 ## $a This authority record has been deleted because the heading is covered by the subject headings $a [heading] $0 (DLC)shXXXXXXXXXX $i and $a [heading] $0 (DLC)shXXXXXXXXXX

Note that the LCCN is no longer contained within parentheses, nor is there a period at the end of the field. 

Effective immediately, all proposals to cancel subject headings and medium of performance and genre/form terms should include the new coding. Proposals that have already been submitted will be adjusted by LC staff.  SHM instruction sheet H 193.5 will be revised.  Records with the new coding will begin to be distributed no earlier than April 7, 2015.

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2015 List 1
January 19, 2015

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Announcements

H 1103, Ethnic groups

On List 1410 (Oct. 2014) the announcement was made that the subdivision –Industries, which was limited to preliterate peoples, has been deleted from H 1103 and that the individually established LCSH combinations (e.g., Indians of North America—Industries) will be cancelled on a future list.  

Pursuant to that announcement, the project to cancel individually established LCSH combinations with the subdivision –Industries,has been completed and the cancellations are published on this list (List 1501).

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2014 List 12 – No Announcements

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2014 List 11

November 17, 2014

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Subdivisions to be added to lists of free-floating subdivisions:

H 1195, Land vehicles

$x Motors $x Fuel injection systems $x Fluid dynamics
$x Motors $x Lubrication systems $x Fluid dynamics

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2014 List 10
October 20, 2014

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Subdivisions to be added to lists of free-floating subdivisions:

H 1180, Plants and crops

 $x Effect of altitude on (May Subd Geog)

H 1195, Vehicles

$x Transmission devices $x Parts (May Subd Geog)

$x Transmission devices, Automatic $x Cooling systems (May Subd Geog)

Subdivisions to be deleted from lists of free-floating subdivisions:

H 1103, Ethnic groups

$x Industries

Announcement:

H 1103, Ethnic groups

The subdivision –Industries, which was limited to preliterate peoples, has been deleted from H 1103.  An analysis of the 113 unique[ethnic group]—Industries combinations in LC’s catalog (e.g., Bamun (African people)—Industries) showed that the subdivision was almost uniformly assigned to peoples who are literate.  Moreover, in cases where the literacy status of a particular group could not be readily determined, the group still exists. Therefore, it seems safe to assume that members of the group might be preliterate today, but literate in the future.

The meeting determined that the application of the subdivision is so problematic that it will be removed from LCSH altogether (i.e., it will not be separately established under individual headings).  Instead, other headings that are specific to the work should be assigned instead (e.g., Amzugo art; Basket making; Industries, Primitive).  

Removing the subdivision –Industries will bring us closer to being able to include an 072 Subject Category Code in the authority record for every ethnic group established in LCSH.  

SHM H 1103 will be updated, and the individually established LCSH combinations (e.g., Indians of North America—Industries) will be cancelled on a future list.  The bibliographic records will be adjusted as time permits.

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2014 List 9 -- No Announcements

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2014 List 8

August 18, 2014

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Subdivisions to be added to lists of free-floating subdivisions:

H 1095, Free-floating subdivisions

$v Juvenile drama
$v Juvenile fiction
$v Juvenile humor
$v Juvenile poetry

These four subdivisions already appear in H 1095. Their use is being expanded include names of deities, mythological or legendary figures, and fictitious characters.

H 1160, Musical compositions

$x Philosophy and aesthetics

H 1180, Plants and crops

$x Effect of calcium on (May Subd Geog)

H 1195, Land vehicles

$x Motors $x Gaskets

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2014 List 7 - No announcements

2014 List 6 - No announcements

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2014 List 5

May 19, 2014

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Subdivisions to be added to lists of free-floating subdivisions:

                       H 1200, Wars
                                    $x Youth [May Subd Geog]

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2014 List 4

April 21, 2014

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Subdivisions to be added to lists of free-floating subdivisions:

                        H 1195, Land vehicles
                                    $x Disc brakes

Announcements:          

Angels with proper names excluded from SHM H 1110, Names of Persons            

The meeting has determined that the subdivisions in H 1110, Names of Persons, cannot be used with angels that have proper names (e.g., Raphael (Archangel)) that are established in the name authority file.  This is consistent with the policy for names of individual fictitious and legendary characters, individual gods and mythological figures, and individually named animals. Subdivisions from H 1110 that are needed for use with the name of an angel may be proposed and editorially established under the specific heading. 
The background statement in SHM H 1110 will be revised in the next update cycle.

Fictitious characters that are appropriated or reused by one or more authors

A fictitious character may be appropriated or reused by authors other than the one who created it.  For example, Sherlock Holmes was created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but has appeared in comic books by Ian Edginton, in juvenile fiction by Judith Conaway, in television programs such as the BBC’s Sherlock, and elsewhere.

For subject cataloging purposes, if characters with the same name are purported (i.e., marketed) to be the same character, then the same subject heading is used for the “original” character and the appropriated or reused version.  However, if it is clear from the jacket information, etc., that a character happens to have the same name but is unrelated to the original character, then a separate heading is necessary.  Therefore, the works by Doyle, Edington, and Conaway, and the television program Sherlock, would all be assigned the heading Holmes, Sherlock with appropriate subdivisions.  On the other hand, a separate heading would have to be established for novels about a florist named Sherlock Holmes whose backstory indicates that his mother named him Sherlock Holmes because she loved to read mysteries.
           
Establishing fictitious and legendary characters, mythological beings, and deities in the name authority file

Fictitious and legendary characters, mythological beings, and deities established in the name authority file are considered to be persons and all of the applicable RDA instructions about access points for persons (RDA 9.19 and the corresponding LC-PCC PSs) should therefore be applied.  Several proposals to cancel subject headings that appeared on this list referenced improperly formulated authorized forms of names.
For instance, there was a proposal to cancel the subject heading Agamemnon (Greek mythology) because it is covered by the name heading Agamemnon (Greek mythological figure). However, because Agamemnon is the king of Mycenae in Greek mythology, the RDA instructions indicate that Agamemnon’s title of royalty should appear following the preferred name in the authorized access point. PSD has updated the authorized access point in the LC/NACO authority file to Agamemnon, King of Mycenae (Mythological character).

The name headings referenced on this list were adjusted.  In the future, proposals based on incorrectly established RDA access points may be marked “resubmit” and sent back to the cataloger for revision of the name authority record and the subject cancellation proposal.
           
Cancelling phrase and subdivided headings that include the name of a fictitious, legendary, or mythological character, a deity, etc.

In addition to headings for characters and deities, LCSH includes derivative phrase headings and subdivided headings such as Don Quixote (Fictitious character) in art and Dionysus (Greek deity)—Cult, respectively.  The derivative and subdivided headings must be either cancelled or adjusted, as appropriate, when a proposal is made to cancel the subject heading for the character or deity.  Preference is given to cancelling the records when practical, in order to reduce the ongoing maintenance required if/when the name headings are revised. 

Make proposals to cancel derivative phrase headings and subdivided headings unless one or both of the following statements applies.

1.  The subdivision does not free-float under the category to which the heading belongs. 
Raphael (Archangel) in literature (a 150 field) will be revised to Raphael (Archangel)—In literature (a 100 field).  The subdivision –In literature does not free-float under names of angels, so the subdivided heading must be retained in LCSH.

2.  The heading is needed for a hierarchical (BT) reference.

The subdivision –Cult free-floats under names of deities, but since Demeter (Greek deity)—Cult is a BT for Thesmorphia, it must be retained in LCSH.
           
When proposing the cancellation of a derivative or subdivided heading, use the following wording:

682 ## $i This authority record has been deleted because the heading is replaced by the heading $a [insert heading here], $i a heading for which a subject authority is not made because it uses a free-floating combination.
                       
Note that neither names of fictitious, legendary, and mythological characters nor names of deities are covered by H 1110, Names of Persons (see the Background statement).  Instead, subdivisions that free-float under those categories of headings are listed in H 1095.

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2014 List 3

March 17, 2014

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Subdivisions to be added to lists of free-floating subdivisions:

                        H 1195, Land vehicles
                                    $x Drum brakes [May Subd Geog]

                        H 1195, Land vehicles
                                    $x Motors $x Cylinders $x Fluid dynamics [May Subd Geog]

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2014 List 2

February 17, 2014

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Announcement:

Crimes and law about crimes

In April 2013, PSD announced an upcoming change in subject heading policy for crimes and groups of crimes.  Historically, headings for crimes and groups of crimes (e.g., Murder; Commercial crimes) have been assigned to works on the law related to the crime as well as to works on the sociological, psychological, political, etc., aspects of the crime. Because of this policy, the subdivision –Law and legislation was not valid for use under headings for crimes.

The policy has been changed, and the subdivision –Law and legislation may now be used under headings for crimes and categories of crimes.  Proposals to revise the existing headings and to create new headings in the form [crime or category of crimes]–Law and legislation (e.g., Murder–Law and legislation; Computer crimes–Law and legislation) appear on this list. 

The subdivision –Law and legislation is not free-floating in this context, so each new use must be established editorially (i.e. proposed).

Further information on this project, including the rationale for the change in policy, is available at http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/crime-law-and-legislation.pdf. 

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2014 List 1 - No announcements

2013 List 12 - No announcements

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2013 List 11

November 18, 2013

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Subdivisions to be added to lists of free-floating subdivisions:

                        H 1147, Animals
                                    $x Effect of energy development on

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2013 List 10 - No announcements

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2013 List 9 

September 16, 2013

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Announcements

Proposals to cancel subject headings for individual fictitious and legendary characters, individual deities and mythological figures, and individual animals with proper names

As these headings are established in the name authority file, the corresponding subject authority records (if any) should be submitted for deletion. See the Summary of Decisions, 13/08, August 19, 2013, and SHM H 193.5, for instructions on the procedure for deleting a subject heading.

Several proposals of this type appeared on this list with an inappropriate cancellation note. SHM H 193.5 provides standard wording for the cancellation notes and instructions on their use. For example, when the heading Bean (Fictitious character : Card) is being cancelled in favor of the name heading Bean (Fictitious character from Card), the note that should be used is:  “This authority record has been deleted because the subject heading is covered by the name heading Bean (Fictitious character from Card) (no2013075580).”  This note should be used because the headings are not identical.  The note that states “…the subject heading is covered by an identical name heading…” should be used only if the headings are actually identical (with the exception of the MARC coding). Failure to use the appropriate note has the potential of confusing the transition of these headings from subjects to names.

Subdivisions to be added to lists of free-floating subdivisions:

H 1158, Materials
$x Radioactive contamination [May Subd Geog]
Not valid under headings for individual materials and groups of materials that are inherently radioactive. 

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2013 List 8

August 19, 2013

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Announcements

Deities and mythological figures

Headings for individual deities and mythological figures (e.g., Thor, Hercules) should now be established in the name authority file using RDA instructions. The RDA heading will be valid for use as a subject heading.

Headings for groups of deities and mythological figures (e.g., Nymphs, the Furies) will continue to be established in LCSH because they cannot currently be established with RDA instructions. The heading God and headings of the type God (name of religion) (e.g., God (Christianity); God (Greek religion)) also continue to be established in LCSH.

The following workflows should be followed when inputting a name authority for an individual deity or mythological figure.

If the heading is needed for subject cataloging and an LCSH heading for the deity or mythological figure already exists, catalogers may continue to assign the existing LCSH heading. In that case, do not make a name authority record.

Optionally, catalogers may make a name authority for the deity or mythological figure if an LCSH heading already exists, but then must also make a proposal to cancel the existing LC subject heading. The proposal should be made through the Subject Proposal System; click the icon next to the heading and select the option “Propose cancelling this heading.”

If the heading is needed for a descriptive access point, it should be input into the name authority file. LCSH should be searched to determine whether the deity or mythological figure has already been established there. If so, a proposal to cancel the subject heading must also be made. The proposal should be made through the Subject Proposal System; click the icon next to the heading and select the option “Propose cancelling this heading.” NACO libraries who do not contribute SACO proposals may email policy@loc.gov to request that PSD make the cancellation proposal for them.

A project to transition all individual deity and mythological figure headings from LCSH to the name authority file will be conducted as resources are available. Catalogers are requested to refrain from unilaterally undertaking projects to convert the LC subject headings to name headings in a wholesale manner. Workload and staffing issues do not permit PSD to process the number of proposals that such projects would generate. SACO libraries wishing to undertake such a project may contact the Coop Section at saco@loc.gov and the request will be considered.

The SHM will be revised to reflect the new procedures.

Proposals for fictitious characters and individual named animals withdrawn 

The following proposals for fictitious characters and individual named animals were withdrawn in accordance with the announcement entitled “Fictitious and legendary characters, and animals with proper names” in the Summary of Decisions for List 7 (2013). Headings for them may be added to the name authority file.  

            Knight, Rachel (Fictitious character)
            Mørk, Carl (Fictitious character)
            Nasrullah (Race horse)
            Private Sarbi (Dog)

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