Just because we were brought up that way" is no valid reason for perpetuating, either in our crania or catalogs, the humanity-degrading intellect-constricting rubbish that litters the Library of Congress Subject Headings." (Author)

A comprehensive guide to the literature published between World War II and 1979 which critically evaluates the Library of Congress list of Subject Headings (LCSH), this bibliography has been prepared for information personnel involved with subject authority files, thesauri, or vocabulary control. A brief bibliometric analysis of the literature…

In this second of five course installments, key terms in an up-to-date definition of "subject access"--access, collection of items, search words, vocabulary, index or catalog records, related words or clues, file--are identified, and their part in providing subject access in both traditional and computer-based services are discussed.…

Reports on a comparative study of the postcoordinate retrieval effectiveness of Library of Congress Subject Headings and the Preserved Context Indexing System (PRECIS). Data are presented in six tables and one figure, and a reference list is included. (Author/JL)

Although portions of this guide to finding information on educational and psychological tests at the Library of Congress are directed at those interested in standardized published tests as preparation for taking them, it will probably be most helpful to those administering tests, interpreting their results, or designing measuring devices for…

This volume provides subject access to materials on all aspects of African American life and culture using the same format as the "Library of Congress Subject Headings" (LCSH). It lists approximately 5,000 subject headings that are interfaced and linked with LCSH. The list contains some of the problems that accompany the LCSH list…

This paper analyzes proposals for augmenting library bibliographic records for improved subject searching in online catalogs by providing access to parts of books. Arguments for and against adding book content indexing, possible fields for enrichment, and feasibility of 11 alternatives for providing such information are presented. Twenty-two…

Describes a study at the City University (London) that was conducted to evaluate the impact of an online catalog on subject searching behavior. Methods of using the catalog and browsing at the shelves are examined, and results are compared with an earlier study of subject searching with a manual PRECIS index. (25 references) (LRW)

This paper describes a computer-assisted printed index which provides expanded subject access to the more than 6000 titles in the Iowa State University Library reference collection. Designed to complement existing catalogs with a minimum of duplication of information, the index displays abbreviated length records. The limitations of subject access…

The Simple Index Method overcomes the difficulties in building a core list for serials in interdisciplinary fields by using multiple indexes which cover various aspects of the subject. Collection-development librarians can develop a core list when standard bibliographies or specific indexing and abstracting tools are lacking and can tailor that…

Describes the implementation of a new set of indexes in the NOTIS/LUIS system that provide author, title, and subject access to bibliographic and authority records in the NOTIS/MARC format. The discussion covers index record structure and content, the design philosophy and process, and functions supported by the system. (Author/CLB)

Assembled to aid educators and administrators in Scotland in selecting and applying appropriate information retrieval systems in learning resources centers, this collection contains an introductory essay and four articles on the characteristics and features of some basic information retrieval systems. The articles include (1) a discussion of the…

Compares traditional cataloging to Web-based. Discusses intellectual-access issues as they apply to reference services today, and outlines deficiencies in traditional cataloging, and corresponding attributes of Web-based intellectual access. Notes ways that catalogers and public-service librarians can address these issues. (Author/AEF)

The effectiveness of current subject cataloging practices for assigning geographical headings to local historical records in meeting the requirements of an escalating number of genealogist-patrons was examined. The findings indicated that catalogers use two general approaches in determining subject headings for local historical collections in the…

Describes the special collection on deaf people and deafness in the Gallaudet University Library (Washington, DC). Topics include periodicals; cataloging; the classification system and subject headings developed for the collection; online catalogs; online periodical indexes; deaf reference; archives; and the World Wide Web home page. (Author/LRW)