Table of Contents: 2023 NOVEMBER–DECEMBER No. 455
Use of 2024 MeSH in Cataloging. NLM Tech Bull. 2023 Nov-Dec;(455):e4.
[Update: As of December 13, 2023, the 2024 base files for all MARC, NLMXML and MARCXML products as have been posted at https://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/download/catalog.html. A reminder that any records updated between December 1 and December 12 are only available in the base file. Weekly Catfile distribution will resume on December 21 and will contain any updates since December 12.
The next monthly CatfilePlus and Serfile distributions will be January 1.]
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) adopted the 2024 Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) vocabulary for cataloging on December 11, 2023. For additions and changes to MeSH Terminology for 2024, see What's New in MeSH.
Implications for LocatorPlus Catalog and the NLM Catalog
Accordingly, MeSH subject headings in the LocatorPlus Catalog were changed to reflect the 2024 MeSH vocabulary and appear in that form as of December 7, 2023.
It is anticipated that the NLM Catalog database and translation tables will be updated to reflect 2023 MeSH by mid-December 2023. Until then, there will be a brief hiatus in the addition of new and edited bibliographic records to the NLM Catalog.
Implications for Downloading Catalog Record Data
The last weekly Catfile distribution with 2023 MeSH terms was on November 30. Weekly Catfile distribution will resume on December 14 and will contain 2024 MeSH. Any records updated between November 30 and December 13 will only be available in the baseline file. A follow-up announcement will be posted when the baseline files for MARC and XML data are available.
The last monthly CatfilePlus and Serfile distribution with 2023 MeSH was on December 1. See also Download Catalog Record Data (Catfile, CatfilePlus, Serfile).
Implications for the NLM Classification
The winter version of the NLM Classification is scheduled to be published in late January 2024 and will encompass changes resulting from new and changed MeSH terms for 2024 as well as additional minor updates to the index. The main index terms will continue to link to the 2023 MeSH until the Winter 2024 edition is published in January.
The NLM Classification number appears in many terms in the MeSH Browser and is supplied by the Cataloging and Metadata Management Section (CaMMS) when the MeSH term points to a single classification number. These class numbers are current as of the Winter 2023 edition of the NLM Classification. They will be updated with the publication of the 2024 Winter edition in January 2024.
MeSH 2024 Changes in NLM Bibliographic Records and Cataloging Policy
Generally, vocabulary changes in NLM bibliographic records for books, serials, and other materials were implemented as they were applied for citations in MEDLINE.
The MeSH 2023 heading Tobacco was changed to the plant name Nicotiana in 2024. Tobacco was not retained as an Entry Term in 2024. After analysis of our bibliographic records for Year-End Processing (YEP), it was determined that most of the bibliographic records using 650 Tobacco should be changed to Tobacco Products rather than Nicotiana.
Publication Types
New for 2024
Modifications per Change in Cataloging Policy
In line with Goal 2 of NLM's Long Range Plan to "...redefine and manage NLM's diverse collection of both historical and modern content as one collection,..." there is no longer a need to define "historical" in the annotation field of the MeSH Browser.
The Annotation "CATALOGER: Use for historical material only" was removed from the following 14 Publication Types for 2024 MeSH. In addition, some annotations were replaced with special instructions:
Note: NLM removed all instances of Manuscript, Medical and Essay from our records since they are no longer used in cataloging.
Geographic Headings
One new geographic descriptor was added: Himalayas.
Any Table G notation additions or changes in the NLM Classification will be addressed with the 2024 Winter edition of the NLM Classification.
