How to Use Library of Congress Subject Heading

HighSly

Editor

posted on 5 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

1
views

When conducting research on a specific subject, Google and similar search engines are an excellent way to begin. However, for in-depth research, libraries contain information not readily found by a search engine. In searching for a specific topic, Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) act as a thesaurus describing the contents of a book or resource. Resources can be classified under several different subject headings, enabling users to find what they are looking for under several topics.

Steps

Learning About Library of Congress Subject Headings

Know the history of LCSH. The Library of Congress was moved to the building where it now resides in 1897. As the collection grew, the Library of Congress decided to create a classification system that was consistent and updatable for searching. The Library of Congress decided to use a subject list prepared by the American Library in 1895, and has made updates as needed.

Know how LCSH headings are organized. The Library of Congress Subject Heading system is a controlled vocabulary that identifies what a book or other information source is about. Subject headings can start with a single word or phrase of a general nature, and be subdivided into more specific headings. You can use LCSH to help your search in these ways: Identify specifically what an item is about. Searching on a broad subject heading will yield a large number of results, but some of these results may not be relevant to your search. By using narrower terms, you can find more relevant results. Identify a certain type of material. If you are interested in a specific type of material such as a diary, or a recording, you can use subject headings to find the type of material you are looking for. Locate other relevant information. Often LCSH have Related Terms, Broader and Narrower Terms that help you focus your search on the most relevant information.

Using Subject Headings to Catalog a Work

Determine the item's subject matter. While it is not practical to read or watch each work you're cataloging, it is possible to analyze some key parts to find the subject, including: Title. Table of Contents. Introduction or preface. Author’s purpose or foreword Abstract. Container (e.g. CD sleeve, software box, etc.) Identify the work's format. The subject of the work is what is about. The format is what it is, e.g. a book, compact disc, DVD, etc.

Locate the subject headings that best match the work. Make a list of keywords to describe the item's subject and format. Do a search on the Library of Congress website using the keywords you have identified. Catalog the item using the subject headings in your search results.