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Interdisciplinary Library of Congress Subject Headings
You know how when you have a giant reference book, and you’re looking for something particular, you flip to the index? And generally what you’re looking for, if the book contains it at all, is going to be found under one of a few index words. LoC Subject Headings are like one giant index for all materials in a library’s catalogue. They make it so people can find what they’re looking for without knowing pesky details like title or author.
More specifically, taken as a whole, Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) comprise a tool created by the United States Library of Congress. The tool, which physically results in a thesaurus of controlled vocabulary[1] colloquially known as 'The Big Red Books' (of which there are currently five), serves two purposes. Firstly, it is an organization tool for professionals in libraries and other information institutions to use as established framework by which to catalogue materials. Secondly, it is a search tool for users of said institutions, as an alternative to searches by author(s), or title, among others. LCSHs are applied to every item within a library’s collection and they are searchable online at the Library of Congress Authorities.
It is important to note the structure of LCSHs because it can enhance your results. Since 2001, the Library of Congress has been working to standardize LCSHs in the arts. The new pattern is called free-floating subdivisions and iswritten like this: Drawing, French--France--Paris--20th century.[2] In this example, "France" is a narrower term for "Drawing, French." "France" is also a broader term for "Paris." The number of search results are increased when going from a specific, narrower term to a broader one. Likewise, if the search yields too many results, a narrower term may be more useful.
[2] Please see http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/artcat.html and the downloadable pdf files for more detail on the structure of LCSHs in art and architecture.
For further information on LCSHs, please refer to these helpful resources:
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill: What's LCSH?
University of Oregon: Finding Books
University of MD: Using Library of Congress Subject Headings
As an arts researcher, here are some LCSHs that you may be familiar with already:
Visual arts
Photography
Painting--Baroque
Painting--Technique--Exhibitions.
Drawing
Drawing--Private collections
Prints
Prints--21st century
Sculpture--materials
Calder, Alexander, 1898-1976
Neolithic Period
Performing arts
Dance and music
Dance--Anthropological aspects
Music--Germany--History and criticism
Instruments--wind
Theater--New York (State)--New York Reviews
Rock music--1961-1970--Discography
Audio/Visual arts
Digital art
Sound recording and reproducting--Digital techniques
Television scripts--Archives--Indexes
Cinematography--Special effects--Equipment and supplies--Directories
Interdisciplinary research and collaboration, especially those between the arts and the sciences, is often encouraged by academic institutions and funding sources. On the following pages, you will find scenarios describing sample collaborative projects, and a list of applicable LCSHs to the given situation. It is hoped that this resource will encourage you to consider the vast opportunitites outside of your immediate area of study, and the exciting ways your expertise can be utilized.
Animation Scenario
Film Scenario
Art Restoration Scenario
Music Scenario
Drawing Scenario
More specifically, taken as a whole, Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) comprise a tool created by the United States Library of Congress. The tool, which physically results in a thesaurus of controlled vocabulary[1] colloquially known as 'The Big Red Books' (of which there are currently five), serves two purposes. Firstly, it is an organization tool for professionals in libraries and other information institutions to use as established framework by which to catalogue materials. Secondly, it is a search tool for users of said institutions, as an alternative to searches by author(s), or title, among others. LCSHs are applied to every item within a library’s collection and they are searchable online at the Library of Congress Authorities.
[1] Controlled vocabulary schemes mandate the uses of predefined, authorized terms, in this case Library of Congress Subject Headings, that have been preselected by the designer of the controlled vocabulary as opposed to natural language vocabularies where there is no restriction on the vocabulary that can be used.
It is important to note the structure of LCSHs because it can enhance your results. Since 2001, the Library of Congress has been working to standardize LCSHs in the arts. The new pattern is called free-floating subdivisions and iswritten like this: Drawing, French--France--Paris--20th century.[2] In this example, "France" is a narrower term for "Drawing, French." "France" is also a broader term for "Paris." The number of search results are increased when going from a specific, narrower term to a broader one. Likewise, if the search yields too many results, a narrower term may be more useful.
[2] Please see http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/artcat.html and the downloadable pdf files for more detail on the structure of LCSHs in art and architecture.
For further information on LCSHs, please refer to these helpful resources:
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill: What's LCSH?
University of Oregon: Finding Books
University of MD: Using Library of Congress Subject Headings
As an arts researcher, here are some LCSHs that you may be familiar with already:
Visual arts
Photography
Painting--Baroque
Painting--Technique--Exhibitions.
Drawing
Drawing--Private collections
Prints
Prints--21st century
Sculpture--materials
Calder, Alexander, 1898-1976
Neolithic Period
Performing arts
Dance and music
Dance--Anthropological aspects
Music--Germany--History and criticism
Instruments--wind
Theater--New York (State)--New York Reviews
Rock music--1961-1970--Discography
Audio/Visual arts
Digital art
Sound recording and reproducting--Digital techniques
Television scripts--Archives--Indexes
Cinematography--Special effects--Equipment and supplies--Directories
Interdisciplinary research and collaboration, especially those between the arts and the sciences, is often encouraged by academic institutions and funding sources. On the following pages, you will find scenarios describing sample collaborative projects, and a list of applicable LCSHs to the given situation. It is hoped that this resource will encourage you to consider the vast opportunitites outside of your immediate area of study, and the exciting ways your expertise can be utilized.
Animation Scenario
Film Scenario
Art Restoration Scenario
Music Scenario
Drawing Scenario
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