New Methods of Updating former Subject Headings Results in Larger Number of Records

Upcoming MDS issues (MDS-Books, Visual Materials, Music, Maps, Computer Files) will contain more than the usual number of records. Using new methods for correcting large number of records, the Cataloging Policy and Support Office of the Library of Congress is undertaking projects to retrospectively update LC bibliographic records containing older forms of subject headings. Formerly, large numbers of bibliographic records had to be corrected one by one. Using the new method approximately 13,000 bibliographic records containing the former term "Afro-American(s)" will be updated to reflect the newer form of the heading, "African American(s)".

Other major retrospective changes to subject headings, such as "Moving pictures" changed to "Motion pictures," "Handicapped" changed to "People with disabilities", and others, will be distributed in the coming weeks.

It is anticipated that as other current subject heading changes are made to subject authority records, affected bibliographic records will be distributed at or very near the same time. Subscribers can expect faster turnaround time and quicker updates of bibliographic records containing older subject headings as the manual process of individual record updates is replaced by high volume and more inclusive systematic methods.

Questions or concerns regarding subject heading updates may be directed to:

Ron Goudreau

Editor of Subject Headings, CPSO/LC

email: rgou@loc.gov telephone: (202) 707-5865

September 9, 2003