Cataloging Practices - 2002

This section of the Annotated Alphabetic List includes specific instructions for the correct coordination of main headings and subheadings, and assignment of publication types for cataloging. Also included are instructions for medical catalogers on how to construct the traditional subject heading string no longer used on NLM's internal bibliographic records. The traditional subject heading string is reconstructed, however, on records NLM distributes to bibliographic utilities and other licensees.

Background

The Cataloging Section at NLM has used the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) thesaurus for assigning subject headings to books, journals, and audiovisuals since 1960 and now uses it also for electronic resources. With MeSH 1999 nearly all variances between cataloging and indexing in applying the MeSH vocabulary were eliminated. Catalogers follow the same principles for application of MeSH in subject analysis, as do indexers for journal article literature.

Catalogers also apply the same coordination principles as indexers do in that they may express the subject content of an item by the combination or coordination of two or more MeSH headings or MeSH heading/subheading combinations. Any item may be subject-analyzed using any type of coordination or by a combination of any two or more of the types below:

two or more MeSH headings

pre-coordinated main headings

main heading and topical subheading combinations

For example, a work on research in occupational therapy is represented by the two main headings OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY and RESEARCH, whereas research in nursing is represented by the pre-coordinated heading NURSING RESEARCH. A work on surgery of the liver is represented by the coordination of the main heading LIVER and the topical subheading /surgery, whereas biliary tract surgery is represented by the pre-coordinated main heading BILIARY TRACT SURGICAL PROCEDURES.

Catalogers and indexers use the topical subheadings as permitted in MeSH to fully describe the subject content of an item.

Cataloging Annotations

Cataloger annotations are provided in instances when more guidance for consistent application of MeSH is needed. Annotations applicable specifically to cataloging are prefaced by CATALOG: in upper case letters. Nearly all other MeSH annotations apply equally to cataloging and indexing. Exceptionally, catalogers use disease manifestation concepts such as EYE MANIFESTATIONS, SKIN MANIFESTATIONS, etc., annotated "not used for indexing."

MeSH Headings

Specific Headings vs. Broader Headings

In general, catalogers assign the most specific heading or headings available in order to bring out the main focus of the item. If the title covers several specific subjects indented under a broader heading in the MeSH tree structure, it is NLM policy to assign up to three specific headings. If more than three specific headings are needed the cataloger will assign the broader heading. CAUTION: This rule applies only when the individual MeSH headings are treed under a broader heading in the same category. In all other cases specific MeSH headings are assigned as required by the content of the work.

Headings Not used in Subject Cataloging

There are three types of MeSH headings not used in subject cataloging. The first is a group of broad, general main headings not used in indexing or cataloging (e.g., FOOD AND BEVERAGES); catalogers use the appropriate specific main heading or headings to cover the concepts. These headings are annotated "not used for indexing; CATALOG: do not use" or "not used for indexing or cataloging".

The second type is a small group of check tags listed in Features of the MeSH Vocabulary, under Check Tags. In MeSH they are easily identified by the annotation "check tag only." A notable exception is CASE REPORT which catalogers use like a Publication Type.(See details under Addendum Applying Publication Types below)

The third group of headings catalogers do not use consists of corporate names. They are annotated "CATALOG: use NAF entry." Catalogers use, instead, the heading from the Cataloging Name Authority File.

Age Group Headings & PREGNANCY

Catalogers use age group headings and PREGNANCY as primary or secondary subject headings. They are used as primary subjects when they are the focal point (i.e., the age group is the focus of the psychological, sociological or social content) of an item. When age group headings or PREGNANCY are used as secondary subjects they function as additional topical subheadings in combination with other main headings or main heading/topical subheading strings. NLM makes these combination on records distributed to bibliographic utilities and other licensees. (See details under Changes in Structure, Content, and Practice).

Topical Subheadings

Catalogers, like indexers, should use no more than three topical subheadings with any main heading, except in very rare circumstances. For any item in which more than three subheadings seem to be needed with a single main heading, the cataloger should apply the Topical Subheading Hierarchies in an attempt to reduce the number of subheadings required.

For example, if an item is about many aspects of a disease and substantively discusses diagnosis, epidemiology, genetic aspects, and therapy, each of these subheadings may be used because they have no relationship with one another in the subheading trees.

If, however, the item discusses diagnosis, therapy, epidemiology, and mortality of the disease, the last subheading should not be indexed because it is a subset of epidemiology in the subheading tree.

For a topical subheading to be used with a main heading it must be on that heading's allowable qualifier list. See Topical Subheadings With Scope Notes, Abbreviations, and Allowable Categories. Although the Annotated Alphabetic List provides guidance for qualifying a main heading with a topical subheading (i.e., allowable qualifier (AQ)) by descriptor categories or subcategories, whenever possible catalogers should consult the MeSH Browser since every main heading record provides a listing of all its allowable qualifiers.

Publication Types

The Publication Types section, enumerates publication types (PTs) used in cataloging. One or more publication types may be assigned to an item to characterize the nature of the information presented (i.e., the item is a bibliography, handbook, outline, etc.). Special instructions on how to apply publication types are provided in the Addendum Applying Publication Types below. For more detailed information see web document Applying Publication Types/Genres

Changes in Subject Heading Structure, Content and Practice

With 1999 MeSH and the implementation of the Voyager Integrated Library System, the Cataloging Section moved to harmonize its practices for subject heading content and structure with NLM's indexing practices. These changes are intended to facilitate cross-file searching through the NLM Gateway and enhance retrieval by assuring that the same terms produce like results for articles, books, non- print materials, electronic resources, etc.

Structural and Content Changes

In NLM LocatorPlus, NLM's web-based catalog, main headings or main heading and topical subheading combinations are no longer qualified by geographic, form, or language subheadings (see web document Main Heading and Subheading Order. Instead geographic descriptors and publication types (PTs), formerly known as form divisions, are carried in separate fields and are used in retrieval in coordination with main headings or main heading and topical subheading combinations. The NLM LocatorPlus record does not contain language subfields for the PTs DICTIONARY, ENCYCLOPEDIAS, PHRASES or TERMINOLOGY since the information is encoded in the MARC language field (041).

In LocatorPlus records subject headings appear in the following format:

650 _2 ‡a Main Heading ‡x topical subheading

651 _2 ‡a Geographic location ‡x topical subheading

655 _7 ‡a Publication Type ( formerly form division) ‡2 mesh

659 _7 ‡a Genre/publication type ‡2 mesh

Based on advice received from a number of medical libraries, NLM recombines subject headings, geographic descriptors and PTs to form the conventional subject heading string in MARC records distributed to bibliographic utilities and other licensees. The order of the main headings and subheadings is:

650 _2 ‡a; Main heading ‡x topical subheading ‡z geographic location ‡v Publication Type/genre [former form subheading*] ‡x language

*Note: The form subheadings are limited to Genre/Publication Type. Information about the physical format of an item is not part of the subject string. The descriptive and coded portions of a bibliographic record contain physical format information.

For detailed instructions on how to construct a subject heading string found in NLM LocatorPlus records see web document CONSTRUCTING THE SUBJECT HEADING STRING.

Changes in Subject Cataloging Practice

With the implementation of Voyager and 1999 MeSH in November 1998, NLM's bibliographic database was maintained, and the changes were applied to all records. Geographic subheadings were converted to 651s, geographic names. Form subheadings were changed to the appropriate publication type (PT) and moved to the 655-genre/form field. Language subheadings were deleted. The /in age groups subheadings were converted to the corresponding main heading and moved to the 650 subject heading field. The subheading /in infancy and childhood was split into INFANT and CHILD.

Age Group Headings & PREGNANCY: Use of the subheadings /in [age group" (e.g., /in adolescence, etc.) and /in pregnancy were discontinued by NLM catalogers with the implementation of 1999 MeSH. NLM's catalogers began using the appropriate age group main headings instead. See Age Group Headings & PREGNANCY above. The age group topical subheadings continued to be provided in MeSH through 2000 for use by medical catalogers wishing to continue the previous NLM practice.

Topical Subheadings: In 1999 catalogers began using all appropriate topical subheadings available as allowable qualifiers (AQs) with the Main Heading. The previous restrictions prohibiting use of the topical subheadings legislation & jurisprudence or statistics & numerical data no longer apply.

Geographic Headings: Use of Geographic subheadings was discontinued by NLM catalogers with MeSH 1999. Instead Category Z geographic descriptors are used as main headings in the 651 field and may be used with the topical subheadings epidemiology and ethnology in 651 ‡b. In records distributed to utilities geographic subheadings appear in ‡z of the 650. Subheadings epidemiology and ethnology from 651 ‡b are not included in distributed records. See Structural Content Changes above.

Geographic descriptors can be used in combination with any main heading or main heading and topical subheading combination when appropriate, even if a specific annotation such as "specify geog" or "specify geog, if pertinent" is not present.

Form Divisions Change to Publication Types: All form subdivisions were replaced in MeSH 1999 by publication types (PTs). For example: BIBLIOGRAPHY (PT) replaced /bibliography (form subdivision). The previous form subdivisions were, however, printed in the 1999 and 2000 editions of MeSH for use by medical catalogers who wished to continue NLM's previous practice. Form subdivisions are no longer provided.

For special more detailed instructions see Addendum below. More detailed information can be found in the web document Applying Publication Types/Genres.

Language Subheadings: The language of a dictionary, encyclopedia, etc., is not used as part of the subject string in NLM's LocatorPlus records since it is encoded in the MARC21 (Machine Readable Cataloging 21) language field. However, language subheadings are added to subheadings in NLM's distributed records when the following publication types (PTs) are present: DICTIONARY (PT), ENCYCLOPEDIAS (PT), PHRASES (PT) or TERMINOLOGY (PT).

Cataloger Annotations

The number of cataloger annotations is greatly reduced as a result of the changes made in subject analysis practice. The following cataloging annotations no longer apply and are no longer printed in MeSH: 1) CATALOG: /form/language, 2) CATALOG: /geog/form, and 3) CATALOG: do not use /in inf. (For types of cataloger annotations still in use see Application of MeSH for Medical Catalogers, 2.6. CATALOG: Annotations.

Other Changes

As a result of the changes outlined above, the following appendices are no long supplied with the section on Cataloging Practices:

Appendix A - Form Subheadings for Catalogers, With Scope Notes (For changes in usage see Table of Obsolete Form Subdivisions & Their Corresponding Publication Types in Application of MeSH for Medical Catalogers.

Appendix B - Geographic Subheadings for Catalogers, and

Appendix C - Language Subheadings for Catalogers.

The Publication types (PTs) list replaces the form subheadings list. Category Z, Geographic locations, replaces the geographic subheading list, and the USMARC Code List for Languages is used for language subheadings in distributed bibliographic records.

ADDENDUM

Applying Publication Types/Genres

The Medical Subject Headings - Annotated Alphabetic List section "Publication Types" specifically enumerates publication types (PTs) used in cataloging. This list is divided into two groups, the List of PTs Used as Form Divisions and List of PTs Used as Genres. This differentiation between like terms is made so that medical catalogers can add a PT found in the first list as a form division to a subject heading string (650 ‡ form subfield). PTs found in the second list are treated as genres and are not added to any subject heading string. They are used independently in a record (659, locally defined non- recombinant PT field in LocatorPlus and 655 Genre/Form field in distributed records.)

Special Instructions:

CASE REPORT: Medical catalogers may use CASE REPORT as a form division, although it is a check tag. In NLM's LocatorPlus records CASE REPORT is treated as a secondary subject heading and retrieval is coordinated with Main Headings. In distributed records it is added to the subfield v (‡v) of the appropriate 650 subject heading.

Use of ELECTRONIC JOURNAL as a Publication Type is discontinued:

The PT ELECTRONIC JOURNAL was included in the list of PTs used as Form Division 1999-2001. NLM discontinued use of ELECTRONIC JOURNAL as a PT in June 2001 and retrospectively removed the PT from bibliographic records in LocatorPlus. This change was made in conformance with NLM"s policy, implemented with MeSH 1999, to discontinue the use of physical format as Publication Type or Genre.

Changes to cataloging practices in applying the PTs LEGISLATION and STATISTICS:

The PT LEGISLATION was included in the list of PTs used as Form Division in 1999 and 2000. In 2001 it was moved to the Genre list and is used whenever 20% or more of the content of the material being cataloged consists of the text of laws, statutes, ordinances or government regulations.

The PT STATISTICS was included in the list of PTs used as Form Division in 1999 and 2000. In 2001 it was moved to the Genre list and is used whenever 20% or more content of the material being cataloged consists of statistical data.

PTs used as form division in subfield ‡v of the 650

Abbreviations

Abstracts

Anecdotes

Annual Reports

Atlases

Bibliography

Biobibliography

Biography

Cartoons

Catalogs

Charts

Chronology

Collected Correspondence

Collected Works

Collections

Congresses

Dictionary