Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)

What is it?• LCSH is a controlled vocabulary used for

subject indexing of the Library of Congress collection.

• It is also widely used by other libraries, indexing agencies, and online bibliographic databases for subject cataloging and indexing.

• The keywords of LCSH provide subject access points to bibliographic records.

How is it constructed?• The LCSH controlled vocabulary was originally

created from the contents of the Library of Congress collections. Other subject headings are established when new materials are added and based on the needs of other libraries’ collections.

• The controlled vocabulary is designed to be specific and precise for accurate searching.

• Each subject has only one heading, with synonyms and variant forms included as entry vocabulary. This prevents false hits and keeps subject information in together.

• Subject headings must be unbiased, familiar to users, and unambiguous in meaning.

• Popular terms are usually favored over technical terms.

History

Photo courtesy of loc.gov

• By 1890, the Library of Congress was so crowded that mail bags and books were stacked everywhere.

• In 1897, it moved to a new building.

• J.C.M. Hanson develops Library of Congress Subject Heading modeled after Charles A. Cutter’s Rules for a Dictionary Catalog.

• The first author cards were printed in July 1898.

Important Years• 1902- printed card catalogs available to

other libraries.• 1976- LCSH available on microfiche• 1980’s- Library of Congress begins policy of

seeking headings from other libraries• 1993- LCSH first available on the internet

Who uses LCSH?• LCSH are used in many libraries, primarily large

university and research libraries, not only in America but in other countries.

• Now with a quarter million terms, it is the most comprehensive non-specialized controlled vocabulary in the English Language and has become the standard for subject cataloging and indexing.

• Commercial services such as Wilsononline and Dialog carry databases with MARC records providing access through LC headings.

How is it used?• As other libraries wanted

access to LC headings the “Red books” were published.

• Users consult the red books with a keyword and are directed to the correct subject heading that books on the topic would be catalogued under.

• Today LCSH are used in online library catalogs. Keyword searches can be refined by clicking on LCSH and then retrieving all materials cataloged under the subject.

• They are particularly useful when searching for records on an OPAC system between other libraries. The records will be similarly cataloged because of common subject headings.

• LCSH are now updated weekly on the library of congress website as changes and new headings are approved before the editorial meeting.See the changes at www.loc.gov

How Could It Be Used?

• With successful adaptation to electronic environment, LCSH could have future uses in organizing virtual collections of online material to make them searchable.

Evaluation of LCSH• Subject headings were very rigid and

unchanging until the 1990’s

• Sanford Berman advocated the inclusion and re-evaluation of the LC headings.– Racist subject headings– Ethnocentric, Christian-

oriented, and male dominated

• Once one finds a relevant subject heading, it may be easier to find many books on that specific subject, however the limited language of the subject headings makes it difficult to search.

• Browsing is nearly impossible for some subjects, such as history topics. – History books may be found in numerous locations

throughout the LoC because of its interconnectedness with so many other subjects.

LCSH and Web 2.0• With the advances of Web 2.0 tools, LCSH

have become more of a formal establishment and less of a research tool.

• The Library of Congress Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control has suggested allowing library users the ability to tag items and collections.

• LibraryThing, a Web 2.0 tool, utilizes user tags.

• LCSH’s limited vocabulary also relies on a hierarchical structure starting with broader terms and working toward narrower descriptions .

• This structure is not visible, and usually unknown to traditional researchers.

• LC Subject Headings may be difficult for a researcher to use because they are accustomed to the use of keywords rather than subject headings.

• LCSH have the advantages of identifying very specific works, displaying certain chronologies of works, and uniting records that may be in different languages because of their professional oversight.

• They are necessary for a basic structure of organization for the many records within, but for usability, the Library of Congress should look into a new way to classify records.

• “Searchers have trouble matching their search words to those in a controlled vocabulary, don’t understand the structure, and are confused by the subdivisions.” –James R. Dwyer, Road to Access

ReferencesChan, L. & Hodges, T. (2000). Entering the Millennium: A New Century for LCSH. Cataloging and Classification

Quarterly, 29 (1) 225-234 Retrieved from EBSCOHost EJS database

Chan, L. M. (n.d.). Library of Congress Subject Headings Principles and Policies. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from http://www.itsmarc.com/crs/shed0014

Chan, L.M. (1998, August). Still robust at 100: A century of LC Subject Headings. Retrieved July 8, 2009 from http://loc.gov/loc/lcib/9808/lcsh-100.html

Gilyard, B. (1999). Sandy Berman's Last Stand. City Pages, 20, 971. Retrieved from http://www.sanfordberman.org/cityp/ber1t.htm

Hunter, E. (2002). Classification Made Simple. 2nd Ed. Burlington, VT: Ashgate publishing

Library of Congress. (n.d.). Library of Congress. Retrieved July 10, 2009, from http://www.loc.gov/

Rolla, P. J. (2009). User Tags versus Subject Headings: Can User-Supplied Data Improve Subject Access to Library Collections? Library Resources & Technical Services, 53(3), 174-184. Retrieved from LISTA.

Stone, A. (2000). The LCSH century: A brief history of the Library of Congress Subject Headings, and introduction to the centennial essays. Cataloging and Classification Quarterly, 29,1-2. Retrieved July 8, 2009 from http://catalogingandclassificationquarterly.com/ccq29nrl-2ed.htm