Interpreting Index
Displays
Catalogers
should be careful not to confuse authorized subdivisions with authorized
subject headings.
In the following Orbis index display, Periodicals
is valid as a topical subdivision (180), a form subdivision (185), or a
subject heading (150):
LTLC MORE
ORBIS INDEX SEARCH
BIBLIOGRAPHIC INDEX -- 85 ENTRIES FOUND
1 - 19 DISPLAYED
PERIODICALS
1 *ESTABLISHED
HEADING (LC 180
bcb)
2 *ESTABLISHED
HEADING (LC 185
bcb)
3 *ESTABLISHED
HEADING (LC 150
bcb)
* SEARCH ALSO UNDER
4
ADVERTISING MAGAZINE (LC 550 bcb)
However, in the next Orbis index display,
Software
is valid only as a form subdivision (185); it cannot be used as a subject
heading. As you can see, even some LC catalogers have not applied
the authority record correctly!
LTLC MORE
ORBIS INDEX SEARCH
BIBLIOGRAPHIC INDEX -- 895 ENTRIES FOUND
1 - 9 DISPLAYED
SOFTWARE
1 *ESTABLISHED
HEADING (LC 185
bcb)
*SEARCH ALSO UNDER
2
COMPUTER GAMES (LC 585 bcb)
3
JUVENILE SOFTWARE (LC 585 bcb)
--CONGRESSES
4 .EXPERT
SYSTEMS FOR SCIENTIFIC <1992> (LC 650)
5 .INTELLIGENT
MATHEMATICAL SOFTWARE <1990> (LC 650)
--DEVELOPMENT
6 .DESIGNING
OBJECT ORIENTED SOFTWARE <1990> (LC 650)
--LAW AND LEGISLATION--FRANCE
7 .CONTRATS
ET LITIGES EN INFORMATIQUE <1996> (LC 650)
CAUTION: Because the LC project
to create subdivision authority records is not yet complete, and because
LC began by creating records for form subdivisions, there will not always
be a topical authority record that makes it explicit that a form subdivision
can also function as a topical subdivision.
For example, Exhibitions can be
used as a form subdivision, a topical subdivision, or a subject heading,
but at this time there are authority records only for its use as a form
subdivision (185) and as a subject heading (150). The topical subdivision
authority record (180) will be created eventually:
LTLC MORE
ORBIS INDEX SEARCH
BIBLIOGRAPHIC INDEX -- 251 ENTRIES FOUND
1 - 19 DISPLAYED
EXHIBITIONS
1
*ESTABLISHED
HEADING (LC 185
bcb)
2 *ESTABLISHED
HEADING (LC
150
bcb)
*SEARCH ALSO UNDER
3
AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS (LC 550 bcb)
Remember, always verify usage in the
SCM:SH when in doubt!