[1118] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Subject Access for Gopher
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Charles Hildreth)
Wed Sep 2 11:28:37 1992
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 10:05:21 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
From: Charles Hildreth <hildreth@eagle.sangamon.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Reading the responses to the proposal to use Library of Congress Subject
Headings (LCSH) for subject access via Gopher has been both fascinating
and heartening. The level of insight and analysis revealed in these
responses has been quite high.
I do not recall anyone speaking in favor of using LCSH for this purpose!
This is both heartening and sad, as LCSH is our primary national subject
access vocabulary.
The majority of the responses recommend consideration of a classification
scheme or system, such as LCC, Dewey, or the UDC, instead of LCSH. This
is fascinating, as U.S. librarians are often thought to be less than
enthusiastic about the role of classification in bibliographic control
and access than, say, our U.K. and European colleagues.
The best suggestion made to those beginning work on this project was that
they do a bit of reading. If they are still considering LCSH, from the vast
body of literature on its shortcomings and limitations I would recommend:
William Mischo. "Library of Congress Subject Headings: A Review of
the Problems, and Prospects for Improved Subject Access." Cataloging
& Classification Quarterly, 1(2/3), 1982. 105-124.
Mary Dykstra. "LC Subject Headings Disguised as a Thesaurus." Library
Journal, March 1, 1988. 42-46.
------------. "Can Subject Headings be Saved?" Library Journal,
September 15, 1988. 55-58.
Marcia J. Bates. "Rethinking Subject Cataloging in the Online
Environment." LRTS, 33(4), October 1989. 400-412.
Pauline A. Cochrane. Improving LCSH for Use in Online Catalogs.
Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited. 1986.
If, on the other hand, they are thinking of using a classification system,
I would urge them to read about *faceted* classification. This is a great
time to consider a new system. Why put new wine in old bottles? A good
introductory read is:
Eric J. Hunter. Classification Made Simple. Aldershot, England: Gower
Publishing. 1988. (Chapter Three is on faceted classification.)
The References at the back of Hunter's book point to some of the best
work in this area, including:
Brian C. Vickery. Faceted Classification: A Guide to the Construction
and Use of Special Schemes. London: ASLIB, 1960.
Jean Aitchison, and Alan Gilchrist. Thesaurus Construction: A Practical
Manual, 2nd edition. London: ASLIB, 1987.
And most anything written by John Mills or the Fosketts will be rewarding.
Charles Hildreth
READ Ltd.
(hildreth@eagle.sangamon.edu)
