Same LCSH with Different Subdivisions

Q:  Is it okay to use the same LCSH, but with different subdivisions?  Would this be too repetitive?

A:  No, that is fine.  If you are trying to bring out certain aspects of the subject, you have to repeat main LCSH.  For example, it is better to repeat the LCSH than to add on the |x to the same LCSH.

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|v Subdivision Added to All Subject Headings?

Q:  If we use a |v field in the LCSH that we come up with, should it be added to all the subject headings in our record?

A:  Yes, it should be applied because it will be true of all LCSH.  However, you have to read the scope note for the use of that Form Subdivision in the record with the main LCSH.  If you have a topical LCSH and the note reads use with all topical LCSH, then you are okay.  But if it is limited in use, then you have to consider if it applies to your main LCSH.

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Subject Headings and Subdivisions

Q.  If there is a specific subject heading that covers more than one topic, would I choose that versus a more general heading and a subdivision?

A.  You have to brainstorm about what you think the book is about and then go into the AF to see what you find in terms of a main LCSH. Don’t hesitate to search for phrases in various ways. If you can’t find a complete term you will have to consider adding subdivisions or an additional LCSH. There are broader topics that can cover multiple subjects. Check AF records for the broader topics.

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Searching for Subdivision Headings

Q.  We should be searching under the subdivision heading in the authority file for subdivisions, right?

A.  Yes.  You can only do a separate search on subdivision in Connexion.  For example, if you want to use rhetoric as a subdivision, you can search as a subdivision. If you want to use it as the main LCSH you can search for it as LCSH in Connexion.  Just knowing your AF tags will help. Rhetoric as a main LCSH will be found in the 150 tag. Rhetoric used as a subdivision will be found in a 180 tag in the AF record.  The 180 tag will also have the |x next to the subdivision.

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Form: collection of essays …

Q.  What do I do with something that is a collection of essays… and I cannot for the life of me find anything like this in the LCSH?

A. Yes, on the right track, simplify- think Essays.

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LCSH & Forms

Q. I’m confused, so form can be journal/textbook/manual or drama/mystery/documentary – or do you mean that the drama/etc. would be the subdivision of genre and the journal/etc. is the main form heading?

A. A form a book takes can be any number of things.  You can bring out the form with the use of an appropriate subdivision.  Genre headings are reserved for more literary forms a book may be written in.  Genre headings are generally given a 655 tag. These are terms like English literature, Detective and mystery plays, or American fiction.

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Two topical subdivisions?

Q. Would it work to have two topical subdivisions, even if they are separated by another subdivision (like say a chronological one)?

A. Generally two topical subdivisions do not work unless they are established as such or the scope note allows it with the main LCSH. Read the scope notes closely.  If you want to use a word or phrase as a subdivision and it does not work with the main LCSH, then consider it as the main LCSH.  Search the term as a subdivision first to see it if is established as a subdivision and always read the scope note.

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Subdivisions on Genre Heading

Q. Would it be okay if you placed a subdivision on a genre heading?

A. Yes, you can do that. Again, do the authority work on the subd.

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Can a subject have two topical subdivisions??

Q. So it wouldn’t work to have two topical subdivisions, even if they are separated by another subdivision (like say a chronological one)?

A. Generally two topical do not work unless they are established as such or the scope note allows it with the main LCSH. Read the scope notes closely. If you want to use as a subd. and it does not work with the main LCSH then consider it as the main LCSH.

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Can I just use synonyms for LCSH?

Q. Can I just use synonyms for LCSH?

A. You should think about the subject in different terms. Try to bring out a secondary topic. Review the subdivisions for something else. If you want to use as a subdivision and it does not work with the main LCSH then consider it as the main LCSH. You can have the same main LCSH and totally different subdivisions. Or, if you find an LCSH with no subdivisions, think about adding one (or two).

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Subdivision Limit?

Q. Is there a limit to how many subdivisions we can have in one heading?

A. There is a limit in terms of making sure they work with the main LCSH. Generally, you will have a main LCSH and one topical, one geog. and one form if necessary. You can have a main LCSH and totally different subdivisions.

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LSCH & Georgraphical Subdivisions

Q. Is it okay to stick with an LCSH even if it can’t be divided geographically?

A. Yes, it is perfectly fine. Not all LCSH can be subdivided geographically and if it is a good subject heading for the item then you would probably use it and try to bring out the place concept with another LCSH.

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Subdivisions

Q. In general, a subdivision (if not already established) is created in the same way a subject heading is, right? Just searching for terms that describe the work. And can we add subdivisions to any subject heading as long as the scope notes say it’s okay?

A. Right.

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Scope Notes

Q. About scope notes: In general I’m not seeing scope notes in my searches, am I doing something wrong or is it that there aren’t scope notes for it?

A. Notes are in the 6XX tags in the AF records. They are the 680 tags found in subdivision records.

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Form Subdivision

Q. With form subdivision, do we only use this subdivision if the ENTIRE work is this form, not if it just contains it, like maps.

A. Right, the entire work is in the form, i.e., a dictionary or a journal. Then every LCSH will have that form subd. provided you read the scope note and it can be applied to that LCSH. If not leave off the form subd. on that heading. Don’t assume you can add a form subd. You have to do the authority work as well and it has to match up. That is why I keep saying to make sure your read the scope notes.

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Subject Headings

Q. I know that 2 Subject Headings are required, but is there a requirement for subdivisions?

A. You are required to make the subject heading as specific as possible, that may entail adding subdivisions. In some cases, yes, they are necessary and required.

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600 Tag & Subdivisions

Q. Just in general, is there ever a time when you could have a subdivision with a 600 tag?

A. 600 tags are tricky. The subd. scope note must state that it can be used with personal names. Or you have to find one established such as the est. subd. found on the pattern headings for literary authors like Shakespeare. It is very important to read the scope notes if you cannot find the subdivision you want to use with the LCSH already assigned. Don’t make the mistake of assigning an LCSH that can only be used as a subdivision and vice versa.

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Cole’s Editor

Q. For Cole: is an editor tag still optional here?

A. The designation of function is an optional rule. Up to you, but if you add it you must use the correct punctuation and subfield, etc.

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Wynar LCSH

Q. For Taylor’s title, Cataloging and Classification, below is the LCSH that I have for the book. Is this correct?  I did an authority search for cataloging and classification and this is what showed up?
650 _0  Classification |x Books

A. Yes, this would work. You found it in the 150 tag so you know it is established for both the main LCSH and the subdivision |x Books.

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830 Tag Particulars

Q. In the example on the Variable Fields Summary document the 830 is transcribed like this:

830_0 Bulletin (Indiana Library Federation) ; |v no. 3.
Does the 830 tag have final punctuation?

A. 830’s must have final punctuation. It is required of this tag.   And, you still need to add the numeration.

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LCSH (Hesse, Post 2)

Q. For the Hesse title, I know the| v should be poetry, right? How do I look this up? There are 4000 search results. I can’t figure out what should be the topical term. I also saw you could do a keyword search but I don’t see where you can do that?
Am I doing any of this correctly?

A. You want to use “poetry” as a form subdivision for Dust Bowl Era…. You must search it in the AF as a subdivision and read the scope note very closely.  The scope note for poetry reads as follow:

‡i Use [poetry] as a form subdivision under names of countries, cities, etc., names of individual persons, families, and corporate bodies, and under classes of persons, ethnic groups, and topical headings for collections of poetry and individual poems on those subjects.

Now you have to determine if Dust Bowl Era fits into any of those categories, i.e., is it a city, individual person, corp. body, etc.?  If so, you can use it as a subdivision. for Dust Bowl Era, if not, you cannot use it.

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LCSH (Hesse)

Q. This is all I have for the LCSH for the Hesse title, is this correct?
650 _0 |y Dust Bowl Era, 1931-1939

A. You are on the right track with this one. The story did take place during the Dust Bowl era. You have to search the AF to find the established heading for Dust Bowl era to see if you can use it as a main LCSH or as the chronological subdivision with some other main LCSH.
It is also a work of fiction so you must provide the form subdivision along those lines, otherwise this work would be considered a factual account of the Dust Bowl Era and it is not a work of Non-fiction.

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LSCH (Badminton)

Q. For the Badminton book, in the 650 I used: Badminton (Game). This just doesn’t seem right to me.  Is this all I need?

A. Yes, this is the LCSH.  This is a simple search in the AF for badminton as an LCSH and this is the established heading. Don’t forget your indicators for the 650 tags.

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LCSH (Lavine)

Q. Can I add the following additional LCSH for the Lavine title?
Farm life |z Oklahoma |y Dust Bowl Era, 1931-1939 |v Juvenile fiction.

A. Searching the AF for Oklahoma as a geographic name I found the following:

Note that Dust Bowl Era is not established with Oklahoma.  There is no |x Dust Bowl Era in the list of established subdivisions.  So you must search it as a subdivision.  You will find it does not exist as a subdivision but only as a main LCSH.  Which means you cannot add it to the Main LCSH Oklahoma but can only use it as a second LCSH.  So your record might have the following:

651 _0 Oklahoma |x Social life and customs |v Juvenile fiction.   (or some other subdivision pertaining to this book that works with OK)

650 _0 Dust Bowl Era, 1931-1939 |v Juvenile fiction.
In addition the following LCSH works, because farm life can be subdivided geographically:
650 _0 Farm life |z Oklahoma |v Juvenile fiction.

Oklahoma.
	E1.	[151]	1 record
	E2.	[551]	1 record
	E3.	ǂx Antiquities [151]	1 record
	E4.	ǂx Antiquities [551]	16 records
	E5.	ǂv Biography [151]	1 record
	E6.	ǂx Capital and capitol [151]	1 record
	E7.	ǂx Capital and capitol [551]	1 record
	E8.	ǂx Description and travel [151]	1 record
	E9.	ǂx Description and travel ǂy 1951-1980 [451]	1 record
	E10.	ǂx Description and travel ǂy 1981- [451]	1 record
	E11.	ǂv Fiction [151]	1 record
	E12.	ǂv Genealogy [151]

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LCSH (Kent)

Q. Does the following LCSH work for the Kent title?
650    _0    Ranch life |z Nevada |v Fiction.

A. This only works if “Ranch life” can be subdivided geographically.  And in the AF, we find that it can.  The lower case “i” in the Fixed Fields indicates this for us.   See Geo subdivision: i in the record for ranch life below.

Rec stat c Entered 19860211 Replaced 19900327140236.0

Type z Upd status a Enc lvl n Source Roman | Ref status b Mod rec Name use b Govt agn | Auth status a Subj a Subj use a Series n Auth/ref a Geo subdivision i Ser use b Ser num n Name n Subdiv tp n Rules n

	010				sh 85111319
	040				DLC ‡b eng ‡c DLC ‡d DLC
	053				F596 ‡c United States
	150				Ranch life
	550				Farm life ‡w g
	550				Frontier and pioneer life ‡w g

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Multiple 650’s or is one okay?

Q. Do you have to have multiple 650’s or is one okay?  For example for the Lavine title I have:

650    _0    Horses |x Indians |v Juvenile fiction.

A. When you search horses, you do not find Indians as an established subdivision.  SO, now you must search Indians as a subdivision.  It is found in the AF as such, but the Scope note reads: (and you must read the scope note to determine its use with the main LCSH) “Use as a topical subdivision under individual wars.”

This will not work with Horses, because horses is not an individual war.

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Does an LCSH have to exactly match your answer key?

Q. Does an LCSH have to exactly match what you have in the answer keys?

A. NO!  You may come up with something completely different.  It must be in line with the subjects of the book and the established LCSH per the AF.  You may think about a subject in a different way and with different terms and phrases.  No two catalogers will catalog the book the same way. Your LSCH are acceptable as long as they are the valid heading and subdivisions that apply to the book.

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LCSH Help & Info

Q. Can you help with LCSH?
A. LCSH are actually pretty simple.

You think of a term or a phrase that a book is about.  You go into the AF with that term or phrase and search it as an LCSH.  If you find it, you use the established heading from the AF as your main LCSH.  The established heading is always the 1XX field in the AF record.  If you don’t find it then you should rethink your term or phrase and redo your search in the AF until you find an established heading that is appropriate.

For subdivisions, first you should check to see if any are established for your main LCSH, such as in the search for American fiction, see below.  Everything following American fiction with a |y or a |x are established subdivisions (if they have a 150 tag next to it.)  You should always go to the record level regardless to find the established LCSH or established subdivision.  Sometime you have to look through several pages to see all of the established subdivisions.

American fiction
	E1.	[150]	1 record
	E2.	[550]	53 records
	E3.	ǂy 18th century [150]	1 record
	E4.	ǂy 19th century [150]	1 record
	E5.	ǂy 19th century ǂx History and criticism [150]	1 record
	E6.	ǂy 20th century [150]	1 record
	E7.	ǂy 20th century ǂv Bibliography [150]	1 record
	E8.	ǂy 20th century ǂx History and criticism [150]	1 record
	E9.	ǂx African American authors [150]	1 record
	E10.	ǂx African American authors ǂx History and criticism [150]	1 record
	E11.	ǂx Afro-American authors [450]	1 record
	E12.	ǂx Armenian American authors [150]	1 record
	E13.	ǂx Asian American authors [150]	1 record
	E14.	ǂv Bibliography [150]	1 record
	E15.	ǂx Cuban American authors [150]	1 record
	E16.	ǂx Filipino American authors [150]	1 record
	E17.	ǂx Film and video adaptations [150]	1 record
	E18.	ǂx Hispanic American authors [150]	1 record
	E19.	ǂx History and criticism [150]	1 record
	E20.	ǂx Indian authors [150]

If you do not find something you would like to use as a subdivision, this is when you have to do a separate search in the AF.  If you search it as an LCSH you must find the term or phrase in a 18X tag for the subdivision.  The better way to search is to search it from the beginning as a subdivision.  Note you can only do this in Connexion.  (IF you are in LC authorities, then you better know your MARC tags).  When you find the subdivision you want to use, and this is the important part, you MUST read the scope note.
Let’s take the Example of a book about English influences on American fiction.
American fiction will be the main LCSH.  English influences will be considered as a subdivision.
When you look at the established subdivisions for American fiction, “English influences” is not one of them.  So now you must search it as a subdivision.  The following is from the record for English influences:

	180				‡x English influences (notice the heading is in the 180 tag for topical subdivisions)
	580				‡x Foreign influences ‡w g
	680				‡i Use as a topical subdivision under individual literatures other than English. (this is the scope note)

Read the scope note in the 680 tag to determine if English influences used as a topical subdivision works with American Fiction.  The answer would be yes.
Now you can create an LCSH that looks like the following:

650 _0 American fiction |x English influences.

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Geographic Subject Subheadings

Q. If I use a LCSH with an established geographic subheading in my record, do I still have to geographically subdivide all the other LCSH’s I use that allow for geographic subdivision?

A. If the place aspect refers to all of the subjects of the book, which it usually does, then yes, You must try to subdivide all LCSH geographically.  However, the AF determines this.  If you can’t subdivide geog. then you can consider bringing out the place aspect as the main LCSH.

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Creating Subject Headings (proper order of subheadings, etc)

Q. You give the example of “|x History |y 20th century” in the notes. But, what if I wanted to use this to modify a LCSH, and ALSO wanted to include a geographic subheading? Where would the |z go? Normally it would be between the |x and |y, but “|x History |y 20th century” is an established subheading, so it would have to stay grouped right?

A. If you want to use |x History |y with any century, you can use it broadly with any topic (of some historical nature).  I caution you that History cannot be subdivided geog. so any geog. subd. will have to come before |x History.  And, the main LCSH will have to be able to be subdivided geographically as well.  An example is the following book about history of education in the US during the 18th century.

650 _0 Education |z United States |x History |y 18th century.
(the |z comes before the |x because History cannot be subd. geog. per the AF)

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LCSH Subdivision Pariculars

Q. How do you know when you are using a subdivision to modify another subdivision in that “string” or the original (broadest) term?

A. You can add subdivisions only if they are in agreement with the main LCSH and you can’t break up existing established subdivisions from the AF. Be careful with the geographic subdivision, not only does the main LCSH have to be able to be subdivided geographically but so do the subdivisions if you want to place the geog. subd. after another subdivision.

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LCSH Information Resources

Q. We have AACR2, OCLC’s MARC tags resource, and the LC Rule interpretations to help with what we have learned so far… But I’m still not sure what source to use when I have more in depth questions about LCSH. Where should I be looking for these?

A. There are several books on the Suggested Reading list that can help with LCSH.  Taylor and Chan both have chapters on LCSH.  You should spend more time searching the AF and viewing records to see how they are established and checking against actual titles in WorldCat.  It all comes with practice and looking at lots and lots of examples.

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Form Subdivision

Q. There is an explanation of the form subdivision usage that says:

“If a form subdivision such as “Dictionary” is used, it must be attached to all headings in the record“.

I don’t quite understand it. Does this mean that if I have two 650 fields in a record and intend to use “fiction” as a form subdivision, it should be applicable to both 650th fields?

A. Comments:  If the book is about multiple subjects, it is still a dictionary or a journal or a work of fiction regardless. So the form subdivision will apply to all subjects. 

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