Appendix J.  Use of LC Subject Heading Subdivisions Appropriate to Serials

Following are excerpts from the Subject Headings Manual (SHM) which explain the proper usage of subdivisions most applicable to serials.

Abstracts

Use as a form subdivision under topical or geographic headings for works listing publications on those topics together with short summaries.  As a rule, these summaries should include substantive information (as distinct from annotated bibliographies where only descriptive comments are normally offered).  For abstracts of works by or about one person or one organization, use the subdivision –Abstracts under the name of the person or organization (cf. SHM H1215)

Addresses, Essays, Lectures  [Obsolete (cf. SHM H1210)]

Bibliography

Use as a form subdivision under subjects for lists of printed books, or printed books and serials which pertain to those subjects.

Use as follows:

1.   For lists of serials or periodicals alone, use the subdivision –Periodicals–Bibliography under the subject.

2.   For lists of works by or about one person or organization, use the subdivision –Bibliography under the name of the person or organization.

3.   For works which contain lists of the works of authors active in particular fields, as well as biographical information about those authors, use the subdivision –Bio-bibliography under the name of the field.

4.   For bibliographies of bibliographies in a particular field, assign headings constructed as follows:  Bibliography–Bibliography–[topic].

5.   Do not use the subdivision –Bibliography in connection with nonbook materials or manuscripts (except maps).

6.   Since bibliographies are often indexed, it may be difficult to distinguish between indexes (which stress the subject approach to publications) and bibliographies (which merely list publications).  For any bibliography which is indexed in sufficient detail to be usable also as an index to the subject, use the subdivision –Indexes instead of the subdivision –Bibliography.

7.   To distinguish between an annotated bibliography and an abstract, see instructions provided under the subdivision –Abstracts.

Bibliography–Catalogs

Use as a form subdivision under subjects for lists of books, or books and serials, which are held by one organization or library, assembled as a private collection, or issued by an individual publisher.  If such catalogs are limited to lists of serials or periodicals, use the subdivision –Periodicals–Bibliography–Catalogs under the subject.  For the catalog of a named book collection use the name of the collection without the subdivision –Catalogs, e.g., Jefferson, Thomas, Pres., U.S., 1743-1826--Library.

Bibliography–Union Lists

Use as a form subdivision under subjects for the records of the holdings of two or more libraries of books, or books and serials, on those subjects, e.g., Science–Bibliography–Union lists.

Use as follows:

1.   For the records of holdings of periodicals or serials alone, use the subdivision –Periodicals–Bibliography–Union lists.

2.   For union lists of particular kinds of imprints, or publications provided for in the main list of subject headings under the subject heading Bibliography, use the subdivision –Union lists directly under the pertinent heading.  Also use the subdivision –Union lists directly in the case of records of the holdings of nonbook materials.

3.   For union lists of books in the libraries of a particular geographic area, assign the heading Catalogs, Union–[place].

4.   For a union list of books in a particular place on a particular subject, assign two headings, one for the place and one for the subject, e.g., 1.  Korea–Bibliography–Union lists.  2. Catalogs, Union–Korea.

Catalogs

Use as a form subdivision under types of objects, including types of merchandise, art objects, manufacturers, publications, collector's items, technical equipment, etc. for listings of those objects which are available or are located at particular places or occur on a particular market, often systematically arranged with descriptive details, prices, etc. accompanying each entry (cf. SHM H1360).

Use as follows:

1.   For catalogs of books, use the subdivision –Bibliography–Catalogs.

2.   For catalogs of audiovisual materials (all forms treated collectively), use the subdivision –Audio-visual aids–Catalogs, or –Audio-visual materials–Catalogs.

3.   For catalogs which list only one form of audio-visual materials, e.g., films, the subdivision appropriate for that form should be used, e.g., Discography, Film catalogs, Phonotape catalogs, Video tape catalogs.

4.   For catalogs of natural objects or musical instruments, use the subdivision –Catalogs and collections.

5.   For catalogs of exhibitions, use the subdivision –Exhibitions without further subdivision.

6.   For catalogs of objects located permanently in a particular institution, assign in addition to the heading of the type [object]–Catalogs, a heading for the name of the institution (or society) and the name of the collection, if any, using the subdivision –Catalogs under each heading.

7.   For catalogs of individually named collections, assign in addition to the heading of the type [object]–Catalogs, a heading for the name of the collection, e.g., [name of original owner]–Art collections.

Collected Works  [Obsolete (cf. SHM H1425)]

Congresses (cf. SHM H1460)

Use as a form subdivision under topical headings including names of persons, places, or corporate bodies, to designate:

1.   The collected papers delivered at, or published on the occasion of named or unnamed individual congresses.

2.   Reports of the proceedings and discussions, program statements, lists of delegates, etc. of such congresses.

3.   Combinations of both.

Use the subdivision also for proceedings of a society or institution as long as the proceedings are not limited in subject coverage to the internal affairs of the organization; in the latter case the name of the organization is sufficient.

Directories (cf. SHM H1558)

Use as a form subdivision under:

a.   Names of regions, countries, cities, etc. for alphabetical or classified lists containing the names and addresses of the inhabitants or organizations of a place.

b.   Topical headings, classes of persons, types of corporate bodies or names of particular corporate bodies for the names, addresses and other identifying data of persons or organizations connected with the entities named.

c.   Headings for particular kinds of newspapers or periodicals for alphabetical or classified lists of the pertinent identifying data, e.g., American newspapers–Directories.

Use as follows:

1.   For works which list names of persons without addresses or other identifying data, use the subdivision –Registers under the name of the corporate body, class of persons, etc.

2.   Reserve use of the subdivision –Directories under names of subject fields for works which list all of the various types of persons associated with the field, including nonprofessionals, suppliers, etc. as well as perhaps the member organizations.  But for works which list merely the professionals within the field, use the subdivision under the relevant class of persons, e.g., Engineers–Directories.

3.   For directories listing only the organizations belonging to a particular field, use the subdivision –Directories under the heading for the societies, etc. of the field, e.g., Social sciences–Societies, etc.–Directories.

4.   Do not use the subdivision –Directories under names of objects or projects if a subject heading exists for the specific industry or activity which produces those objects (e.g., Rubber industry and trade–Directories; not Rubber–Directories).

5.   If the subdivision –Directories is used under a corporate body, e.g.,  United States.  Dept. of Agriculture–Directories, also make a subject entry, if possible, for the field in which the body specializes, e.g.,  Agriculture–United States–Directories.

Indexes (cf. SHM H1670)

Use as a form subdivision under topical headings for works which provide a comprehensive subject approach to the printed materials, including books, or books and serials, published in a special field of knowledge; the individual subtopics listed in such works may be arranged either alphabetically or systematically.  (Since bibliographies are often indexed, it may be difficult to distinguish between indexes, which stress the subject approach to publications, and bibliographies, which merely list publications.)

Use as follows:

1.   For any bibliography which is indexed in sufficient detail as to be usable also as a comprehensive index to the subject, use the subdivision –Indexes instead of the subdivision –Bibliography.

2.   For indexes to serials or periodicals alone, use the subdivision –Periodicals–Indexes.

3.   For indexes to collections of manuscripts on particular subjects, use the subdivision –Manuscripts–Indexes.

4.   For indexes to specific bodies of literature, use the subdivision –Indexes under the appropriate literary form headings, e.g., English literature–Indexes.

5.   For first-line indexes to poetry or hymns, use the subdivision –Indexes under the appropriate form headings, e.g., English poetry–Indexes.

6.   For indexes to the published works of an individual author treated collectively, use the subdivision –Dictionaries, indexes, etc. under the name of the author.

7.   For indexes to individual monographic works (except individual works of belles lettres, if entered under the name of an author) or to individual serial publications (no restrictions as to subject area), use the subdivision –Indexes under the author-title entry (or under the uniform title for publications entered under title) of the individual publication; in addition to this subject heading assign also the same subject headings that were assigned to the work being indexed, subdivided by the subdivision –Indexes.

8.   For indexes to collections of objects, use the subdivision –Catalogs under the name of the object.

Periodicals (cf. SHM H1927)

In subject cataloging practice the term periodical is defined as a publication other than a newspaper that is actually or purportedly issued according to a regular schedule (monthly, quarterly, biennially, etc.) in successive parts, each of which bears a numerical or chronological designation, and is intended to be continued indefinitely.  This definition is broader than the traditional definition, which states that a periodical is generally published more frequently than annually and normally contains separate articles.  The term serial is frequently used in a broader sense to refer to any title cataloged as a serial, including periodicals, newspapers, monographic series. etc.  The subdivision –Periodicals is used under headings assigned to serials that conform to the subject cataloging definition of periodicals.  Furthermore, by long-standing practice, –Periodicals is not used as a further form subdivision under those form subdivisions listed under "2" below.

In the event that the serials cataloger has not been able to determine with certainty the frequency of publication, use judgment to decide whether or not to use the subdivision –Periodicals.  Base this judgment on whether or not the periodical appears to be issued regularly.  In case of doubt, assume that it is issued regularly and assign the subdivision –Periodicals.  If a publication is known to be issued irregularly but contains articles, etc., and in all other ways appears to be a periodical as defined above, use the subdivision –Periodicals.

Use as follows:

1.   Use –Periodicals as a form subdivision under all headings assigned to works that conform to the definition of periodicals given above.  Use this subdivision under topical headings, personal name headings, corporate body headings, geographic headings, etc. without restriction.  When using this subdivision in conjunction with –Juvenile literature, construct the heading as follows:  [topic]–Periodicals–Juvenile literature.

Do not use the subdivision under headings assigned to publications that are revised and reissued in full on a regular basis, and are therefore cataloged as serials for convenience, but are not periodicals as defined above.  For example, West's Florida probate code with related laws and court rules is published annually and is cataloged as a serial, but the subdivision –Periodicals is inappropriate for this work.

2.   Use –Periodicals as a further subdivision under most form headings and form subdivisions, e.g., American poetry–Periodicals; Tuberculosis–Statistics–Periodicals.

Exception:  By tradition the subdivision –Periodicals is not used under the following form subdivisions:

3.   Works about periodicals.  Use –Periodicals also as a topical subdivision for general works that discuss periodicals on a specific subject.  Do not further subdivide by –History and criticism.  For bibliographies, catalogs, indexes, union lists, etc., of periodicals, further subdivide –Periodicals by the appropriate form subdivision.

Periodicals–Bibliography

Use as a form subdivision under topical headings for lists of serials or periodicals on a particular topic.

Periodicals–Bibliography–Catalogs

Use as a form subdivision under topical headings for lists of serials or periodicals which are held by one organization or library, assembled as a private collection, or issued by an individual publisher.

Periodicals–Bibliography–Union Lists

Use as a form subdivision under subjects for the records of the holdings of two or more libraries of periodicals or serials on those subjects, e.g., Science–Periodicals–Bibliography–Union lists.

Periodicals–Indexes

Use as a form subdivision under topical headings for indexes to serials or periodicals on a particular topic, including indexes to single serials or periodicals.  When the subdivision is used for single serials or periodicals, use also the subdivision –Indexes under the author-title entry (or the uniform title for works entered under title) of the work being indexed (see instructions under the subdivision –Indexes).

Societies, Etc. (cf. SHM H2060)

Use as a form subdivision under topical headings for works discussing two or more societies or institutions active in a particular subject field, e.g., Veterinary medicine–Societies, etc.

Use as follows:

1.   Do not use the subdivision under those topics for which phrase headings have been provided, e.g., Medical societies.

2.   The assignment of headings to an individual serial society publication containing substantive information as well as information about the issuing society is as follows:  1.  Topic subdivided by the form subdivision –Periodicals.  2.  Name of the society (without form subdivision).  If the publication contains only business information about the society, omit tracing 1.  If it contains only substantive information, omit tracing 2.

3.   For works discussing collectively the various learned institutions or societies of a particular place, use the subdivision –Learned institutions and societies.

Societies, Periodicals, Etc.  [Obsolete; use –Societies, etc. or –Periodicals]

Yearbooks  [Obsolete (except for Students–Yearbooks); use –Periodicals (cf. SHM H2400)]

See also:

Section F.  Appendices

CONSER Editing Guide:  Contents