The
Library of Congress >> Especially
for Researchers >> Research
Centers
| Home >> Bibliographies & Guides >> Doing Research at the Library of Congress |
Doing Research at the Library of CongressIIB. The Four Ways to Find Proper Subject Headingsa. Follow cross referencesThe first way is to follow the cross-reference structure given in the LCSH list. For example, under the heading Dreams the following will appear:Dreams (May Subd Geog) The notation “(May Subd Geog)” immediately after the heading is an indication that it may be subdivided by geographical areas (e.g., Dreams--Australia). The next three lines indicate that various aspects of the topic will be assigned numbers in different areas of the Library of Congress Classification Scheme. A column of cross-references follows. These references are preceded by two-letter code designations, which are important:UF = Used For. In this case, the code means that the bold-face heading Dreams, above, is Used For “Dreaming”; The BT, RT, and NT headings are all acceptable terms in the LCSH system. They are not, however, subdivisions or subsets of the term under which they appear. Rather, they are entirely separate headings that must be searched directly in the catalog. Thus, material under the NT term Nightmares appears only under that specific term, and not under Dreams. The final lines, preceded by dashes, are subdivisions of Dreams; thus these headings are valid forms: Dreams--Religious aspects By far the most important cross-references are the NT or Narrower Term headings. Because of the principle of Specific Entry, it is necessary to search under the tightest-fit headings for whatever topic you have in mind, and the NT headings under a more general term are a very good place to look for them.
|
||
 Top
of Page
|
| Home >> Bibliographies & Guides >> Doing Research at the Library of Congress |
| The
Library of Congress >> Especially
for Researchers >> Research
Centers September 29, 2006 |
Contact
Us: Ask a Librarian |