FAST: A Faceted Application of Subject Terminology

FAST: A Faceted Application of Subject Terminology

Classification Crosswalks WorkshopJoint Conference on Digital Libraries

June 28, 2001Presented by Ed O’Neill

Background Background

Enormous volume and rapid growth of resources available on the World Wide Web.

Emergence of numerous metadata schemes have spurred a re-examination of the way subject data is to be provided for web resources efficiently and effectively.

Metadata Metadata

SimplicitySimplicity refers to the usability by non-catalogers to allow the creation of metadata records by persons not necessarily trained in sophisticated methods of bibliographic control.

Semantic interoperabilitySemantic interoperability enables users to search across discipline boundaries and, desirably, also across information retrieval and storage systems.

ALCTS/SAC/Subcommittee: Requirements ALCTS/SAC/Subcommittee: Requirements

Be simple and easy to apply and to comprehend,

Be intuitive so that sophisticated training in subject indexing and classification, while highly desirable, is not required in order to implement,

Be logical so that it requires the least effort to understand and implement,

Be scalable for implementation from the simplest to the most sophisticated.

Options for Metadata Options for Metadata

We are limited to three basic choices in selecting an indexing/subject heading schema for metadata:

The use an existing schema(s),

Adapt or modify an existing schema.

Develop new schema(s),

Objective of FAST ProjectObjective of FAST Project

Develop a new subject heading schema based on LCSH suitable for metadata which is easier to use, understand, and maintain.

Minimized the need to construct headings, Simplify the syntax, Retain the richness of the vocabulary.

Simplify the Complex Syntax and RulesSimplify the Complex Syntax and Rules

FAST TeamFAST Team

Ed O’Neill, OCLC

Diane Vizine-Goetz, OCLC

Kerre Kammerer, OCLC

Eric Childress, OCLC

Rebecca Dean, OCLC

Lois Mai Chan, University of Kentucky

Lynn El-Hoshy, Library of Congress

Synergy Synergy

ALCTS/SACALCTS/SAC

OCLCOCLC Library ofCongressLibrary ofCongress

Advantages of LCSHAdvantages of LCSH Rich vocabulary covering all subject areas,

It has the strong institutional support of the Library of Congress,

Synonym and homograph control,

Has been extensively used by libraries, contained in millions of bibliographic records,

Has a long and well-documented history.

Card FormatCard Format

Originally created for card catalogs—a 3x5 card environment,

Pre-coordinated

vocabulary,

Design limits number

of entries.

Originally created for card catalogs—a 3x5 card environment,

Pre-coordinated

vocabulary,

Design limits number

of entries.

Coverage of LCSH Topical Authority FileCoverage of LCSH Topical Authority File

Coverage of Geographic Authority FileCoverage of Geographic Authority File

Established2%

Not Established; Not used by LC

73%

Not Established; Used by LC

25%

Patterns SubdivisionsPatterns Subdivisions

Pattern subdivisions, like free-floats, are subdivisions which have general application. However, the scope of patterns is limited to particular types (patterns) of headings.

Patients is one of several hundred subdivisions that can be used with headings for individual or types of diseases and other medical conditions …

Combining Pattern SubdivisionsCombining Pattern Subdivisions

is an established heading, is covered by the disease pattern, is authorized under the pattern for diseases

becomes a class of persons,

is authorized under the pattern for classes of persons.

FAST RequirementsFAST Requirements Usable by people with minimal training and

experience,

Enables a broad range of users to assign subject terminology to web resources: – Bibliographers– Faculty– Reference staff

Amenable to automated authority control,

Compatibility with use as embedded metadata,

Focus on making use of LCSH as a post-coordinate system in an online environment.

FacetsFacets

Topical

Personal Names

Corporate Names

Conference/Meetings

Uniform Titles

Geographic

—

Form

Period

FACET: TopicalFACET: Topical

LCSH main headings from topical headings (650),

All associated general ($x) subdivisions from any type of LCSH heading,

Period subdivisions containing topical aspects from any type of LCSH heading,

All topical headings will be established in an authority file.

FAST: Topical HeadingsFAST: Topical Headings

Industrial project management—Data processing.Colombian poetryBlacksmithing—History.Epic literature—History and criticism.Pets and travelQuartets (Pianos (2), percussion)Natural gas pipelines—Economic aspectsSchool psychologistsBlood banksLoudspeakers—Design and construction

Geographic name will be established and applied in indirect order, [Ohio—Columbus not Columbus (Ohio)],

First level geographic names will be limited to names from the Geographic Area Codes table (e.g., Ohio, France, Great Lakes, etc.)

Other names will be entered as subdivisions under the smallest first level name in which it is fully contained (North America—Maya Forest)

Qualifiers are only be used to identify the type of geographic name (Kingdom, Satellite, Duchy, Princely State, etc.).

All geographic headings will be established in an authority file.

FACET: GeographicFACET: Geographic

Charlevoix Search ExampleCharlevoix Search Example

Charlevoix (LCSH headings)Charlevoix (LCSH headings)Charlevoix (Mich.)Charlevoix (Quebec)Charlevoix County (Mich.)Charlevoix County (Quebec)Charlevoix Harbor (Mich.)Charlevoix Region (Mich.)Charlevoix Region (Quebec)Charlevoix Site (Mich.)Charlevoix, Lake (Mich.)Charlevoix-Est (Quebec : Regional County Municipality)Charlevoix-Est (Quebec)Charlevoix-Est County (Que.)Charlevoix-Est County (Quebec)Charlevoix-Ouest (Quebec)Charlevoix-Ouest County (Que.)Charlevoix-Ouest County (Quebec)Clermont (Charlevoix-Est, Quebec)Deer Creek Watershed (Charlevoix County, Mich.)Holy Island (Charlevoix County, Mich.)Horton Creek (Charlevoix County, Mich.)Horton Creek Marsh, Charlevoix County, (Mich.)Lake Charlevoix (Mich.)Lake Charlevoix (Michigan)Marion (Charlevoix County, Mich.)

Charlevoix (Mich.)Charlevoix (Quebec)Charlevoix County (Mich.)Charlevoix County (Quebec)Charlevoix Harbor (Mich.)Charlevoix Region (Mich.)Charlevoix Region (Quebec)Charlevoix Site (Mich.)Charlevoix, Lake (Mich.)Charlevoix-Est (Quebec : Regional County Municipality)Charlevoix-Est (Quebec)Charlevoix-Est County (Que.)Charlevoix-Est County (Quebec)Charlevoix-Ouest (Quebec)Charlevoix-Ouest County (Que.)Charlevoix-Ouest County (Quebec)Clermont (Charlevoix-Est, Quebec)Deer Creek Watershed (Charlevoix County, Mich.)Holy Island (Charlevoix County, Mich.)Horton Creek (Charlevoix County, Mich.)Horton Creek Marsh, Charlevoix County, (Mich.)Lake Charlevoix (Mich.)Lake Charlevoix (Michigan)Marion (Charlevoix County, Mich.)

Michigan—Beaver Island (Charlevoix County)Michigan—CharlevoixMichigan—Charlevoix CountyMichigan—Charlevoix RegionMichigan—Charlevoix, LakeMichigan—Deer Creek Watershed (Charlevoix County)Michigan—Horton Creek (Charlevoix County)Michigan—Lake CharlevoixMichigan—Marion (Charlevoix County)Michigan—Peaine Township (Charlevoix County)Michigan—St. James Township (Charlevoix County)O'Neill Site, Charlevoix County, (Mich.)Quebec (Province)—CharlevoixQuebec (Province)—Charlevoix Co.Quebec (Province)—Charlevoix EastQuebec (Province)—Charlevoix RegionQuebec (Province)—Charlevoix WestQuebec (Province)—Charlevoix-EstQuebec (Province)—Charlevoix-Est (Regional County Municipality)Quebec (Province)—Charlevoix-OuestQuebec—Charlevoix RegionQuebec—Charlevoix-EstQuebec—Charlevoix-Ouest

Michigan—Beaver Island (Charlevoix County)Michigan—CharlevoixMichigan—Charlevoix CountyMichigan—Charlevoix RegionMichigan—Charlevoix, LakeMichigan—Deer Creek Watershed (Charlevoix County)Michigan—Horton Creek (Charlevoix County)Michigan—Lake CharlevoixMichigan—Marion (Charlevoix County)Michigan—Peaine Township (Charlevoix County)Michigan—St. James Township (Charlevoix County)O'Neill Site, Charlevoix County, (Mich.)Quebec (Province)—CharlevoixQuebec (Province)—Charlevoix Co.Quebec (Province)—Charlevoix EastQuebec (Province)—Charlevoix RegionQuebec (Province)—Charlevoix WestQuebec (Province)—Charlevoix-EstQuebec (Province)—Charlevoix-Est (Regional County Municipality)Quebec (Province)—Charlevoix-OuestQuebec—Charlevoix RegionQuebec—Charlevoix-EstQuebec—Charlevoix-Ouest

Charlevoix (FAST headings)Charlevoix (FAST headings)Michigan--CharlevoixMichigan--Charlevoix CountyMichigan--Charlevoix County--Deer Creek WatershedMichigan--Charlevoix County--Holy IslandMichigan--Charlevoix County--Horton CreekMichigan--Charlevoix County--Beaver IslandMichigan--Charlevoix County--MarionMichigan--Charlevoix County--O'Neill SiteMichigan--Charlevoix County--Peaine TownshipMichigan--Charlevoix Harbor Michigan--Charlevoix RegionMichigan--Lake CharlevoixQuebec ………………………….

FACET: FormsFACET: Forms

Uses table developed based on LC documentation (e.g., SCM, FFS:AAI), and independent correspondence,

LCSH tagged headings not containing $v will be processed for correction prior to validation,

All form headings will be established in an authority file.

Example of FormsExample of Forms

Translations into FrenchRulesDictionaries—SwedishControversial literature—Early works to 1800Translations into RussianStatistics—DatabasesTextbooks for foreign speakers—English—Juvenile literatureSlidesDirectoriesCorrespondence—Juvenile literatureRecords

FACET: PeriodFACET: Period

Chronological headings will reflect the actual time period of coverage for the resource,

Chronological headings will be expressed as a numeric date or date range.

Authority records will be created for period subdivision except when necessary for notes or cross-references.

Example of Faceting (DC view)Example of Faceting (DC view)

650 0 Slavery $z United States $v Fiction.

Subject Slavery

Coverage.spatial United States

Type Fiction

Interoperability between LCSH and FASTInteroperability between LCSH and FAST

Separating syntax from semantics, the syntax can be simplified while retaining the richness of vocabulary in LCSH is retained,

FAST and LCSH can co-exist.

For more information:For more information:

Chan, Lois Mai et. al. “A Faceted Approach to Subject Data in the Dublin Core Metadata Record.” Journal of Internet Cataloging. Volume 4, no. 1-2, 2001, p. 35-47.

O’Neill, Edward T. et. Al. “Form Subdivisions: Their Identification and Use in LCSH.” Accepted for publication in Library Resources & Technical Services. 

For a copy of this presentation:

www.wcp.oclc.org/FAST

Chan, Lois Mai et. al. “A Faceted Approach to Subject Data in the Dublin Core Metadata Record.” Journal of Internet Cataloging. Volume 4, no. 1-2, 2001, p. 35-47.

O’Neill, Edward T. et. Al. “Form Subdivisions: Their Identification and Use in LCSH.” Accepted for publication in Library Resources & Technical Services. 

For a copy of this presentation:

www.wcp.oclc.org/FAST