NAME: Addition of Subfield $b to Field 154 (General Explanatory Index Term) in the USMARC Classification Format
SOURCE: Library of Congress
SUMMARY: This paper proposes the addition of a subfield to field 154 to record a succeeding level or subdivision of a general explanatory index term in the USMARC Classification Format. It is needed for the Library of Congress Classification scheme when a general term refers the user to another term, because there is not one classification number to refer to. It aligns the structure of the field with field 753, which is used for the explanatory note.
KEYWORDS: Field 154 (Classification); Subfield $b, in field 154 (Classification); General Explanatory Index Term (Classification)
STATUS/COMMENTS:
12/2/94 - Forwarded to USMARC Advisory Group for discussion at the February 1995 MARBI meetings.
2/4/95 - Results of USMARC Adivsory Group discussion - Approved.
2/16/95 - Results of final LC review - Approved
.
PROPOSAL NO. 95-5: Addition of Subfield $b to Field 154
(General Explanatory Index Term)
I. BACKGROUND
The Library of Congress is converting all of the Library of
Congress Classification schedules into the USMARC Classification
Format. During the development and approval process of this
format, it was not certain which data elements LCC might use. A
field was developed particularly to accommodate National Library of
Medicine Classification, that it is was also expected would be
applicable for Dewey Decimal Classification, to allow for a general
term that does not point to any particular classification number,
but to other topics. At the time, it was not expected that LCC
needed this field.
Index terms (generally, subject terms that are found in the
back-of-the-book index to a classification schedule) are input into
the record for the number to which they refer. For example, the
index to the H schedule has an entry:
Pipes
Building supplies industry: HD9715.9.P56-HD9715.9.P564
The index term is recorded in field 753 (Index Term--Uncontrolled)
in the record that contains HD9715.9.P56-.P64 in field 153.
There are occasions where there are references in the index to
other terms. Where possible, that term is recorded in another 753
field of the record in which the referred term appears. For
example: the following terms are in the H schedule index:
Multiple employment: see Supplementary employment
Supplementary employment: HD6490.F6
Both terms are recorded in separate 753 fields in the record for
HD6490.F6.
Some instances occur where the reference points to another
term that does not refer to one classification number. It may have
several subtopics under it, or it may point to a general area. For
instance, the term Automatic data processing has a reference to
Electronic data processing. Under Electronic data processing are
listed 21 subtopics with their classification numbers, but there is
no general number for Electronic data processing as a whole:
Automatic data processing, see Electronic data processing
Electronic data processing
Advertising: HF5828.2
Banking: HG1709
Demography: HB849.5
Financial management: HG4012.5
Industrial relations: HD6961.2
...
To include the variant term in field 753 of a classification record
would require that it be repeated in each record with the subtopic.
Such a practice is redundant and difficult for maintenance.
Alternatively, field 154 (General Explanatory Index Term) can be
used for this type of situation, or for situations that refer to a
general area. The record would contain field 154 with the term and
a field 753 with the reference. The situation above (Automatic
data processing) would be coded as follows:
154 $aAutomatic data processing
753 $uElectronic data processing
[753$u is defined as "Use reference term" and could enable a system
to generate a print constant "see".]
153 $aHF5828.2 [$h hierarchy subfields] $jData processing
753 $aElectronic data processing $bAdvertising
In the records for each subtopic under Electronic data processing,
there would be a 753$aElectronic data processing with the subtopic
in 753$b, but the general reference from Automatic data processing
would only be in the record for the general index term.
Although it has not occured frequently, there could be
situations where there is a subtopic under the general explanatory
index term. It is possible, however, to include subtopics under
the index term in field 753, in subfield $b. If the term is a
reference and recorded in $u, there is a subfield $v (Use reference
term--succeeding level) in which to record the subtopic. However,
there is no such subfield in field 154 for a succeeding level. The
following example is from the KJ-KKZ schedule:
Administration
Criminal justice: KJA3525
Higher education: KJC6314
Organization, see Organization and administration
...
While there are 32 subtopics under Administration with
corresponding classification numbers, under Organization and
administration there is no general number. Currently, there is not
way to consider "Organization" a subtopic under the general term
"Administration". The coding should be as follows:
154 $aAdministration $bOrganization
753 $uOrganization and administration
(The other subtopics in the example above would be recorded in a
753 field in the record for the number to which they refer.)
Such coding allows for the appropriate hierarchical relationships
to be apparent in the index terms and aligns the structure of field
154 with that of field 753.
II. PROPOSED CHANGE
The following is presented for consideration:
- Add subfield $b (General explanatory index term--
Succeeding level) in field 154 of the USMARC Classification
Format.
See Attachment A for a description of this field if this
proposal is approved.
------------------------------------------------------------------
ATTACHMENT A
154 General Explanatory Index Term (NR)
Indicators
First Undefined
Undefined
Second Undefined
Undefined
Subfield Codes
$a General explanatory index term (NR)
< $b General explanatory index term--Succeeding level (R)>
FIELD DEFINITION AND SCOPE
This field contains a general explanatory term from the index
to the classification scheme that is identified in field 084
(Classification Scheme and Edition). Field 154 is appropriate only
in an index term only record (008/06, Kind of record, code c) that
is created because the index term cannot be accommodated in a 70X-
75X Index Term field in a schedule or table record (008/06, code a
or b) that contains a classification number in field 153
(Classification Number). This occurs when the index term is not
associated with one classification number or span. Field 753
(Index Term--Uncontrolled) is always used in a record containing
field 154 to direct the user to different locations within the
classification scheme for classifying the topic.
GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING CONTENT DESIGNATORS
INDICATORS
Both indicator positions are undefined; each contains a blank
(#).
SUBFIELD CODE
$a - General explanatory index term
Subfield $a contains a general explanatory index term
representing a general concept that may be found in numerous
places in the classification scheme identified in field 084
(Classification Scheme and Edition).
<$b - General explanatory index term--Succeeding level
Subfield $b contains a term at a level after the first in a
general explanatory index term.>
EXAMPLES
008/06 c [index term only record]
084 0#$anlm$c4th ed., rev. [National Library of
Medicine Classification]
154 ##$aResearch
753 ##$i(Form number 20 or 20.5 in any NLM schedule
where applicable)
753 ##$iOther fields outside the NLM area, in
appropriate LC number
008/06 c [index term only record]
084 0#$anlm$c4th ed., rev. [National Library of
Medicine Classification]
154 ##$aFollow-up studies
753 ##$i(Form number 20 in any NLM schedule where
applicable)
753 ##$iIn a particular area, with the subject of
the original study, e.g. Heart Diseases,
$eWG 200
008/06 c [index term only record]
084 0#$addc$bSistema de Clasificaci¢n
Decimal$c1980$espa
154 ##$aEl
753 ##$iv.a. la palabra que sigue al art¡culo en
los nombres geogr ficos que comienzan con
el art¡culo "el"
[Translation of 753: see also the word that
follows the article in geographic names that
begin with the article "el"]
< 008/06 c [index term only record]
084 0#$alcc [Library of Congress Classification]
154 ##$aAdministration$bOrganization
753 ##$uOrganization and administration>
RELATED USMARC DOCUMENT/FIELD
008/06 Kind of record
084 Classification Scheme and Edition
753 Index Term--Uncontrolled
Library of Congress