Overview
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is a list of words and phrases – called headings – that are used to indicate the topics of library resources. It is used by most academic and research libraries in the United States, as well as by many public and school libraries. It is also used by libraries throughout the world.
LCSH brings consistency to library collections by categorizing topics into logical arrangements, and by controlling synonyms, variant spellings, and homographs. For example, one author may use the phrase soda pop, another may say soft drink; yet another, soda; and a fourth, something else, but they all intend to refer to the same type of beverage. In LCSH, one of those words or phrases is used as the heading, and the others refer to it. By using only one word or phrase for each topic, librarians can make sure that all of the resources on a topic will be grouped together, thereby allowing users to find them easily.
LCSH has been continually updated since its first edition was published in 1914. Until the second half of the twentieth century, proposals to add headings and to change existing headings were made by Library of Congress catalogers alone. Today, LC also accepts proposals from libraries and other institutions that participate in the Subject Authority Cooperative (SACO) Program. Suggestions for improvement may also be submitted by the general public by emailing the Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division (PTCP). Please use [email protected] for suggestions relating to proposals for new and changed headings appearing in Tentative Monthly Lists. For other suggestions regarding LCSH, please use [email protected].
Cataloging policy specialists in PTCP, the unit of LC that maintains LCSH, review thousands of proposals every year and determine whether each should be accepted and incorporated into LCSH. A majority of the proposals submitted each year are accepted.
Preparing and Submitting the Proposal
Subject headings are proposed only as needed to describe library resources. Proposals are submitted if it is thought that the topic of a resource cannot be adequately indicated with the existing subject headings.
The following five steps outline the actions that are undertaken before the proposal is submitted.
Step 1. Search the existing subject headings. A proposal for a new heading is warranted if a heading representing the topic of the resource cannot be found.
Headings are generally proposed for discrete, identifiable topics when they are first encountered.
Alternately, you may discover that a heading for the topic does exist in LCSH, but believe that the heading should be revised to increase access.
Additional information about proposing new headings may be found in Subject Headings Manual (SHM) instruction sheet H 187, When to Establish a New Subject Heading [PDF, 19 KB]. Information about proposing revisions may be found in SHM instruction sheet H 193, Changing a Heading or Deleting a Subject Authority Record [PDF, 43 KB].
Step 2. Research the topic of the resource to find the words and/or phrases used to refer to the topic, as well as definitions or descriptions of it.
The resource being cataloged is an important source of information, but it is seldom acceptable to cite only that resource in a proposal. The choice of reference source is contextual; the reference sources consulted vary widely across subject areas and even from proposal to proposal within a subject area. For example, the statutory language may be researched for a legal topic, while an encyclopedia of science may be consulted for scientific topic.
Additional information about consulting and citing reference sources maybe found in SHM instruction sheet H 202, Authority Research for Subject Heading Proposals [PDF, 304 KB].
Step 3. Formulate the proposed heading, references, scope note, and source citations according to the rules and guidelines in the SHM [PDF, 48 KB].
The above link will take you to the table of contents of the SHM, which contains general guidelines for subject headings and also instructions on headings for specific topics. For instance, there is an instruction sheet that provides general information on proposing geographic headings, and also an instruction sheet that specifically addresses proposals for parks and reserves.
Step 4. Input the proposal into the Subject Heading Proposal System, following the guidelines in SHM instruction sheet H 200, Preparation of Subject Heading Proposals [PDF, 106 KB].
Alternately, those without access to the Subject Heading Proposal System may use the web form [PDF, 156 KB].
Step 5. Alert PTCP that the proposal is ready for review.
LC staff and staff in SACO institutions alert PTCP by following established workflows. Those submitting the web form follow instructions on the form.
Reviewing the Proposal within PTCP
The following five steps outline the actions that are undertaken after PTCP is alerted that a proposal is ready for consideration.
Step 1. Publish the proposal on a Tentative List.
Tentative Lists are published monthly and include all of the proposals that are under consideration in that month. They are made publicly available on the home page of the SACO Program.
Step 2. Gather the comments submitted to PTCP.
Each Tentative List includes an email address to which comments on the proposals may be submitted. PTCP accepts comments from LC and SACO catalogers, other library and archive professionals, lawmakers, and members of the general public. The comment period lasts approximately one month, beginning with the publication of the Tentative List and continuing until the closing date indicated on the list.
Step 3. PSD uses established principles to analyze the proposals, consider the comments submitted, and determine the disposition of each proposal.
For more information on the issues that PTCP considers when reviewing proposals and a description of the five dispositions, see SHM instruction sheet H 204, Evaluating Subject Proposals [PDF, 37 KB].
Step 4. Publish the Summary of Decisions.
The Summary of Decisions is the official record of the reasons that individual proposals on a Tentative List were not accepted. It is made publicly available on LC's Summaries of Decisions web page.
Step 5. Publish the Approved List.
The Approved List includes all of the proposals that were accepted, and reflects all of the changes that PTCP made to those proposals. It is made publicly available on the LCSH Approved Lists web page.
