Guidelines for formulating LC Subject Heading proposals

These instructions are to be used when filling in the Subject Authority Proposal Form found on the SACO homepage. Sample proposals for geographic and biological organisms are available on the SACO home page.

008/06: Geographic subdivision:

• _____ May Subd Geog
• _____ Not Subd Geog
• _____ No Decision

Most headings should be authorized to be divided geographically unless they are inherently geographic in nature and MARC-tagged as a 151 or they represent abstract concepts with no geographic orientation. If the new heading should be divided geographically, place an X on the May Subd Geog line. If unable to determine the appropriate choice, leave this field blank. For further guidance please refer to LC Subject Cataloging Manual (SCM) instruction sheets H 194 and H 364.

040: Requestor's MARC 21 identification code:________________

Please enter the institution's MARC 21 identification code (formerly NUC symbol/USMARC code).

053: Library of Congress Classification Number

HEADING 1XX: ____________________________________________________________

Indicate the proposed heading in this area. A subject heading proposed for inclusion in LCSH must be supported by adequate, appropriate authority research demonstrating a clear preference for the proposed form. Cite reference sources in which supporting information was found in the 670s. When in doubt, contact the Cooperative Cataloging Team.

4XX: Cross-References (or Used For references (UF))

For guidance on how references should be constructed, please refer to SCM H 195 and SCM H 373. Cite sources in 670 fields for each additional UF reference not already justified.

5XX: Broader Term (BT) & Related Term (RT) References

For guidance on how to determine an appropriate BT, refer to SCM H 370.
For guidance on how to determine if headings qualify to be related term references, please refer to SCM H 370.

670: Source Citations

Provide the title of the item being cataloged (work cat) which prompted the need for the subject heading as the first 670. Should the heading itself not be found in the title, indicate where in the item the term, concept, name, etc. was found and if possible a sentence or two from the item describing or explaining the heading in question. Cf. SCM H 200, H 202, and H 203.
"It is seldom acceptable to cite only the work cataloged as authority for a new concept, except in the case of certain named entities such as obscure archaeological sites, brand name products, computer languages, etc. Although the concept may have been found only in the work being cataloged, other sources appropriate to the subject area in question should be cited to demonstrate that the concept was properly investigated."
--SCM H 202

675: Sources not found

Cite the titles of sources that were consulted but in which no information about the heading or its references was found.

680: Scope Notes

781: Geographic subdivision

If the 1XX is a 151, supply a 781 field according to SCM H 836. Note that when the 781 field is not appropriate for a heading coded 151 (e.g., when the heading is a celestial body or a geographic entity in a city; cf. SCM H 836) supply a 667 field with this note: This heading is not valid for use as a geographic subdivision.

952: Bib records to change

Optional field. Coop Team will complete

952: LC pattern or SCM

Supply the number of the SCM instruction sheet on which the 1XX was based (e.g., if 1XX is for a fictitious character cite: SCM H1610) When using patterns supply only those called for by SCM H 202