Types of subject headings
The rules on this page have been approved in concept by the SCRAP committee, but the exact wording is still being adjusted. Please use these rules. Please send any feedback to SCRAP. |
Indicators
The second indicator in fields 600-655 determines what type of heading a field is. Some types of headings should always be retained if appropriate in records in the CCS database, others should always be deleted from records in the CCS database.
Indicator | Heading type | Retain or delete |
---|---|---|
0 | Library of Congress subject heading (LCSH) | Retain |
1 | Library of Congress Annotated Card program heading (LCAC) | Retain for children's material (Audn: a, b, c, or j), except delete when used as a 655 field; delete for all other types of material. |
2 | National Library of Medicine heading (MeSH) | Delete |
3 | National Agricultural Library heading (NAL) | Delete |
4 | Source not specified | Delete |
5 | Canadian subject heading (NLC) | Delete |
6 | French Canadian subject heading (NLC) | Retain for French-language material; delete for everything else[1] |
7 | Source specified in ‡2 | 655: Retain headings with a source of lcgft . Retain headings on the list of local genre headings, regardless of the source code (e.g. gsafd ). Delete all other headings--including those with bidex , even for Spanish-language material.All other 600s headings: Retain headings with a source of |
8 | Sears subject heading | Delete |
Uncontrolled headings
Uncontrolled heading fields (field 653) should be converted to valid LCSH or deleted.
British subject headings
Do not assume that subject headings coded as LCSH in records from the British National Library (UKM) are valid headings or valid constructions; UKM uses its own subject cataloging rules that sometimes conflict with the Library of Congress' headings and rules.
Form/genre headings
- Change all unsubdivided and unqualified form/genre headings found in field 650 to field 655 for print material, videorecordings, and radio programs. Use both 650 and 655 for music, until the Library of Congress releases final instructions on handling musical genres and the medium of performance.
- Use LCGFT as the preferred thesaurus for form/genre headings in field 655.
- Do not subdivide, or qualify by nationality, a heading in field 655.
Foreign-language material
See Subject headings for foreign language materials for additional instructions specific to materials in a language other than English.