PCC Resources for
August 15, 2011
PSD policy specialist responsible for this list: J. Young
CLASSIFICATION
BV2300.C66
The work being cataloged is the Congrégation du Grand-Saint-Bernard’s missions in Tibet. Missionary work limited to a specific region or country is classified in BV2750-BV3695, according to the note above BV2245. This work should be classified in BV3420.T5. The proposal was not approved.
N1930.D34
General works on the Danske kunstindustrimuseum have been classified in NK480.C75, with museums in the decorative and applied arts. The meeting would like to continue this practice. The proposal was not approved.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Caption updates for personal names
In early 2010 the Policy and Standards Division announced that proposals for new captions for personal names should use the established form found in the name authority record for the person, including dates and other additions (see the Summary of Decisions for Weekly List 1003, January 20, 2010).
There will be special projects undertaken to update existing captions. In the interim, if there is a pressing need to update a caption to the authorized form of name, then the caption may be changed offlist. There is no need to make a proposal.
Geographic cutters
According to Classification and Shelflisting Manual F 350, geographic cutters are generally not printed in the classification schedules and do not need to be established. There are, however, some schedules in which traditionally all or most cutters are proposed and printed (e.g., the local history of the United States). Several unnecessary proposals for geographic cutters have been submitted recently. LC and SACO catalogers should contact either PSD or their Coop liaison, respectively, before making a proposal if they are unsure whether it is necessary.
SUBJECT HEADINGS
Barriers to entry (Postsecondary education)
No evidence was provided to indicate that “barriers to entry” is a phrase in common use in educational theory. Regardless, it seems from the titles cited that the concept represented by this proposal is either potential students who do not enroll due to real or perceived barriers; or the hurdles that are overcome by people who do enroll. Either concept is brought out with the existing heading School enrollment. A UF Barriers to school enrollment will be added to School enrollment. The proposal was not approved.
Big Cypress National Reserve –Addition (Fla.)
Acreage is often added to existing parks and reserves, through easements, bequests, gifts, etc. LCSH does not differentiate between the “original” land area of a park and any “additions” that were made to the geographic extent. The authorized heading for the park itself, here Big Cypress National Reserve (Fla.), is applied. The proposal was not approved.
Access technologies
Assistive technologies for people with disabilities are represented by the existing heading Assistive computer technology. The proposal was not approved.
Right to organize
The definition of “freedom of association” in Black’s Law Dictionary states, “The right to join with others in a common undertaking that would be lawful if pursued individually….” Strictly speaking, this definition covers the right to organize. A UF Freedom to organize will be added to the existing heading Freedom of association. The proposal was not approved.
Deserts in the Bible
Deserts in the Bible is already an authorized subject heading (LCCN sh 95005450). The proposal was not necessary.
Diversion (International trade)
The BT references provided in the proposal appear to indicate that diversion is a type of illegal arms transfer or smuggling operation and is an inherently international phenomenon. However, a search of the 2011 edition of the Glossary of Shipping Terms, an earlier edition of which was cited in the record, makes it clear that diversion is not necessarily illegal, international, or related to smuggling. The meeting does note that it is one method employed by smugglers such as arms traffickers. The proposal has been modified to Diversion of goods, with the BT Freight and freightage. The meeting suggests that in addition to Diversion of goods, the headings Smuggling and Arms transfers be assigned to the work being cataloged to bring out the illegal activities discussed in relation to diversion of goods.
Group games
This proposal was made to add a UF Team sports to the existing heading, which already has the UFs Group sports and Sports for groups. The proposal caused the meeting to reevaluate the existing references and determine that they are incorrect since Games and Sports are in different hierarchies. A proposal to separately establish Team sports as a heading may be resubmitted, along with a proposal to adjust the references on Group games.
Kaempfe family
Kaempfe is a variant of Kemp, according to American Family Names, and will be added as UF on the existing heading Kemp family. The proposal was not approved.
Luz (Evora, Portugal)
According to GeoNet, Luz is a populated place. It should therefore be established in the name authority file under descriptive cataloging rules. The proposal was not approved.
New mothers
This proposal cited only titles in which the phrase “new mothers” or “new motherhood” is used and did not provide a definition. The phrase is highly ambiguous and would therefore be difficult to apply. It raises the questions of how long a woman is a new mother; whether only first-time mothers are new mothers; and whether adoptive and foster mothers may be called new mothers. Several existing headings may be applied to bring out the focus of individual works (e.g., Adoptive parents; First pregnancy; Mother and child; Mothers; Mothers—Psychological aspects; Newborn infants; Postnatal care). The proposal was not approved.
Piano—Methods (Blues)—Self-instruction
Piano—Methods (Blues)—Self-instruction is already an established LCSH heading (sh2005004011). The proposal was not necessary.
Rural-urban divide
The established heading Rural-urban relations represents works about rural and urban areas working together successfully, as well as works about those in which the relationship is not as successful. The heading Rural-urban relations should be applied to the work being cataloged. The proposal was not approved.
Sexual minorities—Population
The subdivision –Population free-floats under headings for geographic places and ethnic groups. It is also specifically established under Prehistoric peoples and Minorities. The meeting does not wish to consider Minorities—Population to be a precedent for establishing the subdivision under specific minorities. The heading for the specific minority, subdivided by place, and, if applicable, --Statistics (e.g., Sexual minorities—[place] —Statistics), may be assigned. The proposal was not approved.
Tame Valley (West Midlands-Staffordshire, England)
Subject Headings Manual H 800 sec. 8, Valleys, states: If the river is not yet established, establish a heading for the river at the same time. A heading for the Tame River does not exist. The proposal for the valley may be resubmitted, along with a proposal for the river.
White privilege
White privilege is a particular way of viewing racism; instead of looking at the disadvantages that people of color experience, the scholarship examines the privileges white people have. The concept is covered by several existing headings, such as Racism; Race discrimination; [class of persons or ethnic group]—Social conditions; [place]—Race relations; [ethnic group]—Race identity; etc. The meeting feels that the existing subject headings are sufficient. The proposal was not approved.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Source citations
The number of proposals for new and revised subject headings that include a Wikipedia citation has grown recently. While Wikipedia can be useful, more authoritative reference sources are usually readily available and should be consulted and cited instead of, or in addition to, Wikipedia.
One method for finding such authoritative sources is to examine the bibliographies at the end of Wikipedia articles, which often provide links to official web sites, standard online dictionaries and encyclopedias, and so forth. When the original source of the information is freely available, it is best to consult and cite the original source because information sometimes becomes abbreviated or garbled in the retelling. This has been the case with some recent proposals for biological names. In these cases, the Wikipedia articles cited ITIS (www.itis.gov), a standard database in the field, but misrepresented some of the information found there. Because the catalogers relied on the Wikipedia articles alone, the proposals needed to be revised heavily.
Other methods of finding more authoritative sources are to examine Internet search engine results pages (which usually list authoritative resources near the top) and to search authoritative subscription resources and printed sources.
Additionally, some Subject Headings Manual instruction sheets provide lists of recommended or required reference sources for proposals in particular subject areas (e.g., H 690, Formulating geographic headings; H 1332, Biological names; H 1631 Genealogy and family names).
If Wikipedia alone is cited without an indication that other sources were consulted (i.e., there are no other 670 fields or a 675 field included in the record), then subject policy specialists must either research the proposal themselves or mark it resubmit and send it back to the cataloger. The latter option, which prolongs the time for a proposal to be approved, has been used more frequently of late.
For more information on the research required for subject proposals, please see SHM H 202, Authority research for subject heading proposals.
