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TSD / Cataloging and Metadata Management: Using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH®) in Cataloging

Module 7—Publication Characteristics


Special Instructions

  • Nurses' Instruction
    • Use for background material on diseases and other topics written for a nursing audience, which do not include specific nursing procedures
      • Do not use as a substitute for the qualifier nursing when it is not an allowable qualifier for a given MeSH descriptor
      • Instead, coordinate the MeSH descriptor with Nursing Care or another appropriate nursing descriptor
      • Do not use Nurses’ Instruction if you already have a descriptor that includes the nursing concept

  • Outlines
    • Avoid using both Outlines and Handbooks when cataloging a handbook written in outline form. Prefer Handbooks as the more useful designation, unless only very brief phrases are used.

  • Personal Narratives
    • Use for single as well collections of self-described accounts on specific topics and for personal reminiscences on specific topics
    • Use Autobiography for self-described narratives of a person's life.


Last Reviewed: July 24, 2017