Cataloging: Using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH®) in Cataloging
Module 8—Deconstructed Headings vs. Subject Strings
page 2 of 9
Introduction
Module 1
Subject Analysis Principles
Module 2
Introduction to MeSH Headings (MeSH) and the MeSH Browser
Module 3
Selecting the Main Concept
Module 4
Use of Topical Subheadings in MeSH
Module 5
Geographic Headings
Module 6
Publication Types
Module 7
Names as Subjects
Module 8
Deconstructed Headings vs. Subject Strings
Contrast with LCSH
- LCSH traditionally incorporates topic, geographic, publication type and language in one long subject string
- Example:
- 650 _0 $a Main heading $x topical subheading $z Geographic location $v Publication Type/Genre $x language.
NLM Data Distribution
- Based on requests from our licensees, NLM distributes its MARC 21 bibliographic records with the subject headings in a form that matches the traditional LCSH subject string
- The subject string creation is done programmatically
- This means that records in OCLC and other databases will look different than the records as seen in NLM’s online files: LocatorPlus and NLM Catalog
