Standards & Tools
Standards for Creating Controlled Vocabularies
Other Resources for Creating Controlled Vocabularies
Controlled Vocabularies for Names and Subjects
Controlled Vocabularies for Forms, Genres, and Physical Characteristics
Controlled Vocabularies
Controlled vocabularies optimize retrieval by enabling users to find all works associated with a particular name, title, or topic under a single, authoritative form of term, regardless of which variant the user searches under. Controlled vocabulary resources may be found in the
Controlled Vocabularies Resource Guide
Standards for Creating Controlled Vocabularies
International Standards Organization. Documentation: Guidelines for the establishment and development of monolingual thesauri (ISO 2788:1986)
The international standard for construction of monolingual thesauri. A thesaurus is defined as the vocabulary of a controlled indexing language, formally organized so that the a priori relationships between concepts (for example as "broader" and "narrower") are made explicit
International Standards Organization. Guidelines for the establishment and development of multilingual thesauri (ISO 5964:1985)
The international standard for construction of multilingual thesauri. A thesaurus is defined as the vocabulary of a controlled indexing language, formally organized so that the a priori relationships between concepts (for example as "broader" and "narrower") are made explicit. Designed to be used in conjunction with ISO 2788. Regarded as an extension of the scope of the monolingual guidelines.
The U.S. national standard for thesaurus construction (equivalent international standard: ISO 2788). Shows how to formulate descriptors, establish relationships among terms, and present the information in print and on a screen. Included are thesaurus maintenance procedures and recommended features for thesaurus management systems. Includes extensive examples, suggestions for further reading, and a detailed index. Available as a free pdf file.
Other Resources for Creating Controlled Vocabularies
An annotated bibliography of information sources useful for creating authorized headings in audiovisual and music catalog records. Each entry also includes a suggested way of citing the work in authority records.
Web Resources for SACO proposals.
A list of links to online resources useful for creating authorized headings and authority records. Classified by broad subject area.
Controlled Vocabularies for Names and Subjects
AAT. Art & Architecture Thesaurus On Line. The J. Paul Getty Trust.
A thesaurus, or hierarchical list of preferred terms with cross references, of topical subject terms, forms, genres, occupations and function terms relating to art, architecture, and material culture.
CPSO. Cataloging Policy and Support Office.
CSH. Canadian Subject Headings. National Library of Canada.
A list of over 2,000 subject headings in the English language for accessing and expressing the subject content of documents on Canada and Canadian topics. Available free online, with both thesaurus and MARC21 record displays. Compatible with LCSH.
Iconclass. Maintained by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).
A subject specific international classification system for iconographic research and the documentation of images.
A comprehensive controlled vocabulary (established list of preferred terms, with cross references), primarily of names and jurisdictions, used by thousands of institutions to describe and index persons or bodies who are the subject or, or responsible for the intellectual content of, library and archival material. The online version, available on an experimental basis, includes a "Help Desk" and a link to FAQs. Also searchable on OCLC and RLIN.
LCSH. Library of Congress Subject Headings.
A comprehensive controlled vocabulary (established list of preferred terms, with cross references), primarily of topical subjects, used by thousands of institutions to describe and index the content or subject of library and archival material. Developed for books but also useful for moving image materials. The online version at Library of Congress Authorities, available on an experimental basis, includes a "Help Desk" and a link to FAQs. Also published in 5 volumes and available as part of Classification Web, or through OCLC or RLIN. Used in conjunction with the Library of Congress Subject Cataloging Manual.
MeSH. MEdical Subject Headings. National Library of Medicine.
A comprehensive controlled vocabulary (established list of preferred terms, with cross references) used to describe and index the content or subject of library and archival materials in the field of medicine.
Over 200,000 French subject headings and their English equivalents, as well as some 30 lists of subdivisions applicable to these headings. The product of a collaboration between Library and Archives Canada and the Bibliothèque de l'Université Laval.
A comprehensive thesaurus (hierarchical list of preferred terms with cross references) of over 6,300 terms for indexing visual materials. Companion document to Thesaurus for Graphic Materials II: Genre & Physical Characteristic Terms (TGM II).
TGN. Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names On Line. The J. Paul Getty Trust.
A thesaurus, or hierarchical list of preferred terms with cross references, of geographic names worldwide.
ULAN. Union List of Artist Names On Line . The J. Paul Getty Trust.
A structured vocabulary containing names and information about individuals or "corporate bodies" (i.e., groups of people working together) involved in the design or creation of art and architecture. Scope is global and covers Antiquity to the present, about 220,000 names. Records include spelling variants, nicknames, pseudonyms, biographical data, etc.
Controlled Vocabularies for Forms, Genres, and Physical Characteristics
A controlled vocabulary, with scope notes, of form and genre terms for moving image materials. Not a thesaurus, as it has no hierarchical cross reference structure to navigate between related terms.
MIM. Moving Image Materials. Library of Congress, 1988.
A thesaurus of genre and form terms for moving image materials, constructed according to the ANSI standard for thesaurus construction. Includes cross references. Weighted toward television and theatrical films typical to large "nitrate-preserving" archives.
A controlled vocabulary with which to describe various types of radio programs. It reconciles variant terms, establishes relationships between terms, and guides users in the application of terms.