Subject Headings for Theological Resources
ATLA Annual Conference
June 17, 2009
Eric Friede & Jeff Siemon
Handout EF Pages
LCSH Workshop, ATLA Annual Conference June 17, 2009
Handout / EF Page 1
RELIGION, RELIGIOUS LIFE, AND RELIGIOUS LIFE AND CUSTOMS
Applying Three Common Subdivisions:
--Religion
--Religious life
--Religious life and customs
Subject Headings Manual instruction sheet H 1997 (Religion)
The subdivision –Religion is used under names of countries, cities, etc., ethnic groups,
types of educational institutions, names of individual corporate bodies, and names of
individual persons, for general works on the religions or religious history of those places,
institutions, or people.
Subject Headings Manual instruction sheet H 2015.5 (Religious Life)
The subdivision –Religious life is used under classes of persons to general works that
describe personal religious and devotional life, or offer practical advice on developing
behavior based on religious precepts. This subdivision is not used for works limited to
religious life in monastic orders.
Subject Headings Manual instruction sheet H 2016 (Religious Life and Customs)
The subdivision –Religious life and customs is used under names of countries, cities, etc.,
for works on the religious customs, practices, etc., of these places.
Religion Subdivision 1:
Use under main headings
Geographic headings (151/651)
Chronological subdivision
Specific topical headings (150/650)
No Chronological subdivision
Religion Subdivision 2:
Corporate name headings (110/610)
No Chronological subdivision
Personal name headings (100/600)
No Chronological subdivision
Never use --History subdivision
Religious Life Subdivision:
Use under main headings
Specific topical headings only (150/650)
Religious Life and Customs Subdivision:
Use under main headings
Geographic headings only (150/650)
Never use --History subdivision
Customs and practices subdivision
LCSH Workshop, ATLA Annual Conference June 17, 2009
Handout / EF Page 2
SUBJECT ANALYSIS, SUBJECT AUTHORITY RECORDS
AND SUBJECT CATALOGING TOOLS
Goals:
Provide attendees with an understanding of principles and practices of LCSH
Teach specific skills in subject analysis of religion that can apply for any type of material
Provide guidance in using subject cataloging tools effectively
Discuss specific areas that ATLA catalogers encounter regularly
Principles and Concepts of Subject Analysis:
How do you determine what an item is about?
Subject analysis is conceptual analysis of an item. Covers both what the item is about and
the form or genre of the item
Subject headings are terms used to represent a name, event or concept
Sources for Subject Content:
Title
Table of contents
Introductory matter
Summary, abstract, publisher's blurb
Index
Illustrations
Types of Subject Content:
Topics
Personal names
Corporate names
Geographic names
Time periods
Titles of works
Form or genre
Examples:
Topics - theology - Christology
Personal names - biography - Jonathan Edwards
Corporate names - denominational history - ELCA
Geographic names - missions history - Nigeria
Time periods - patristics - Early church history
Titles - criticism of another work - Bible
Form or genre - type of literature - Sermons or Bible commentaries
Cataloger's Judgment and Consistency:
Recognizing topics and placing them within a discipline
Informed by cataloger's knowledge of the subject
Concepts have to be translated into LCSH
LCSH Workshop, ATLA Annual Conference June 17, 2009
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Unique and Specific Entry:
Each subject heading usually represents a single concept
Scope notes indicate when a heading represents more than one concept
Each subject heading is a precise term used to represent a specific concept
Pre- and Post-Coordination:
LCSH is a pre-coordinate system
Elements are combined into one heading
Complex and multi-element topics require post-coordination in searches
Pre-coordinated subject:
Dictionary of European Medieval church history
Europe |x Church history |y 600-1500 |v Dictionaries.
Post-coordinated subject:
Study of religion among the African diaspora
Blacks |x Religion.
African diaspora.
Main Headings:
Main headings may be
topics (150)
genre/form (150 or 155)
names (100, 110, 111, 151)
titles (130 or name plus ‡t)
Subdivisions 1:
Subdivisions narrow the scope of the main heading
Subdivisions after main headings may be:
topical (‡x)
geographic (‡z)
chronological (‡y)
form (‡v)
Subdivisions 2:
Subdivision authority records
180 topical
181 geographic
182 chronological
185 form/genre
151 geographic with 781 geographic subdivision
180 is equivalent to subfield x topical (Use as a topical subdivision ...)
181 is equivalent to subfield z geographical (Use as a geographic subdivision ...)
182 is equivalent so subfield y chronological (Use as a chronological subdivision ...)
185 is equivalent to subfield v form (Use as a form subdivision ...)
LCSH Workshop, ATLA Annual Conference June 17, 2009
Handout / EF Page 4
Order of Subdivisions 1:
Preferred order is:
topic -- geographic -- chronological -- form
This is preferred when topic may be subdivided geographically
Order of Subdivisions 2:
Alternative order is:
geographic -- topic -- chronological -- form
Geographic subdivisions before or after topical subdivisions
Topic -- geographic -- topical
Topic -- topical -- geographic
Tools and Resources:
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Subject Headings Manual
Free-Floating Subdivisions: An Alphabetical Index
Library of Congress Subject Headings: Introduction
Library of Congress Authorities: http://authorities.loc.gov/
Authority Record for Church history:
Subjects Record [180174041]
ID: sh 85025619 Rec Stat: c Rec Type: z Enc Levl: n Used: 20021025
008: 860211 | anannbabn |a ana
010 $a sh 85025619
040 $a DLC $c DLC $d DLC
053 0 $a BR
150 $a Church history
360 $i headings beginning with the word $a Christian; $i names of denominations,
sects, churches, councils, etc.; and subdivision $a Church history $i under names of
countries, cities, etc.
450 $a Christianity $x History
450 $a Ecclesiastical history
450 $a History, Church
450 $a History, Ecclesiastical
550 $w g $a History
550 $a Christianity
680 $i Here are entered works on the institutional history of the church. Works on the
Christian religion including its origin, beliefs, practices and influence treated collectively
are entered under $a Christianity.
681 $i Note under $a Christianity
LCSH Workshop, ATLA Annual Conference June 17, 2009
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Authority Record Components 1:
Authorized headings (1XX)
Class numbers (053)
References
USE, Used For (UF) (4XX)
Broader Term (BT) & Narrower Term (NT) (5XX)
Related Term (RT) (5XX)
General References (USE and SA) (260, 360)
Authority Record Components 2:
Library of Congress Control Number (010)
Cataloging Source (040)
Date and Time (005)
Nonpublic General Note (667)
Source Data Found / Not Found (670 / 675)
Public or Scope Note (680)
Subject Example Tracing Note (681)
Fixed field (008)
More Authority Records:
Radio sermons 150, 155
Sermons 150, 180, 185
Church history 180
Canada--Church history 151
20th century 182
Using Subject Headings Manual 1:
H 1997 Religion
H 2015.5 Religious Life
H 2016 Religious Life and Customs
H 1095 Free-Floating Subdivisions
Using Subject Headings Manual 2:
H 1100 through H 1145.5 Free-Floating Subdivisions by Main Heading type
H 1146 through H 1200 Subdivisions by Pattern Heading
H 1090 Multiple Subdivisions
H 1205 through H 2400 Special Topics, Materials, Subdivisions, Etc.
Additional Resources:
LC Cataloging and Acquisitions: http://www.loc.gov/aba
LC Online Catalog: http://catalog.loc.gov/
SACO: www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/saco/saco.html
LCSH Workshop, ATLA Annual Conference June 17, 2009
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BIBLE
Bible and Biblical Studies:
Bible uniform titles
Subjects for Bible texts
Form subject headings
Bible translations
Modern Translations of Earlier Translations 1:
Bible. $p O.T. $p Pentateuch. $l Aramaic. $s Targum Pseudo–Jonathan $v Translations
into English.
$a Bible. $p O.T. $p Pentateuch. $l Aramaic. $s Onkelos $v Translations into English.
Modern Translations of Earlier Translations 2:
Bible. O.T. Pentateuch. Aramaic. Onḳelos
Bible. O.T. Pentateuch. Aramaic. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan
Bible. O.T. Pentateuch. Aramaic. Targum Yerushalmi
Bible. O.T. Esther. Aramaic. Targum rishon
Bible. N.T. Gospels. Syriac. Peshitta
Bible. O.T. Daniel. Syriac. Peshitta
Bible. O.T. Hosea. Syriac. Peshitta
Bible. O.T. Minor Prophets. Syriac. Peshitta
Bible. O.T. Pentateuch. Syriac. Peshitta
Bible. O.T. Proverbs. Syriac. Peshitta
Bible. N.T. Gospels. Syriac. Diatessaron
Bible Versions H 1300:
Instructions for works about translations
--Translating
--Versions
--Versions, [name of language group]
[language of translation]--Versions.
--Versions, [name of denomination]
--Versions, [name of version]
Bible as Sacred Works Pattern Heading H 1188:
List of valid subdivisions for sacred works
Conflict with authority records
Use as topical and form subdivisions
Commentaries and Criticism:
Commentaries vs. Bible texts
Commentaries vs. Criticism
Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Criticism, interpretation, etc., Jewish
LCSH Workshop, ATLA Annual Conference June 17, 2009
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Types of Criticism:
Allegorical criticism: examines text as allegory, i.e. text has a non-literal interpretation;
used more often in historical criticism than modern criticism
Canonical criticism: examines text as a totality, with a focus on the meaning of the text
for the community
Criticism, Form: analyzes texts of sections of the Bible by genres and considers the
setting in which the section was composed
Criticism, Narrative: focuses on texts as stories
Criticism, Redaction: focuses on author of text as editor and considers how editor has
shaped narrative
Criticism, Textual: concerned with establishing text of the Bible
Feminist criticism: examines text from the viewpoint of feminist theory or theology
Gay interpretations: examines text from a gay or lesbian viewpoint, emphasizing such
matters as sexual practices and sexual identities
Postcolonial criticism: examines test from a postcolonial viewpoint, emphasizing such
matters as identity, gender, race, racism and ethnicity
Reader-response criticism: focuses on the reader or audience of the text, and the
experience of the audience
Social scientific criticism: examines text using critical methods drawing on the social
sciences, especially anthropology and sociology
Socio-rhetorical criticism: concerned with rhetoric of texts and how the texts function in
discourse
Structuralist criticism: examines texts by analyzing them as narrative material,
specifically by examining the underlying structure
Hermeneutics:
Bible--Hermeneutics
Bible-- Criticism, interpretation, etc.--History
Chronological subdivision
Topics in the Bible:
Bible: Special Topics (H 1295)
Pairing with specific Bible uniform title
--Theology
Ethics in the Bible
--Biblical teaching
Bible and ...
Bible History:
History of Biblical events
History of contemporary events
History
LCSH Workshop, ATLA Annual Conference June 17, 2009
Handout / EF Page 8
Relations:
--Relation to the Old Testament
--Relation to the New Testament
Relation between O.T. and N.T.
Bible. N.T.--Relation to the Old Testament
Bible. O.T.--Relation to Matthew, [Mark, the Epistles of Paul, etc.]
Bible. N.T. Matthew--Relation to Mark, [Psalms, the Pentateuch, etc.]
LCSH Workshop, ATLA Annual Conference June 17, 2009
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CHURCH HISTORY, MISSIONS, ECUMENISM, RELIGION/RELIGIONS
Church History 1:
Church history vs. Christianity
Christianity--History
Christianity--[place]--History
Christianity--[place]
Church History 2:
Chronological subdivisions
Free-floating and not free-floating
Church history as topical subdivision under place
Chronological subdivisions valid under the heading Church history. Free-floating
headings also valid under subdivision Church history.
--ca. 30-100 [not free-floating]
--Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600 [not free-floating]
--Middle Ages, 600-1500 [not free-floating]
--Modern period, 1500- [not free-floating]
--1945- [not free-floating]
--2nd century through --15th century [not free-floating]
--16th century through --21st century [free-floating]
Corporate or Personal Names as Historical Subject:
[corporate name]--History--[chronological subdivision]
[corporate name]--[place]--History--[chronological subdivision]
[personal name]
Theology Historical Subject:
Theology vs. Theology, Doctrinal
Theology--History
Theology, Doctrinal--History
History of Doctrines:
[Christian denomination]--Doctrines--History
--History of doctrines
--History of doctrines--[chronological subdivision]
[topic]--Religious aspects--Christianity
Missions:
Missions
Home missions
Mission of the church
Missions to Ethnic groups
Subdivision Missions
LCSH Workshop, ATLA Annual Conference June 17, 2009
Handout / EF Page 10
Missionaries:
Missionaries from a place
Missionaries to a place
Missions To and Relations:
Christians missions to other religions
Christianity and other religions
Relations: Religions
Established headings are:
Missions to Buddhists
Missions to Confucians
Missions to Hindus
Missions to Jews
Missions to Mandaeans
Missions to Mormons
Missions to Muslims
Missions to Nestorians
Missions to Sikhs
Missions to Satnāmīs
Ecumenism:
Relations: Denominations
Christian union
Church--Unity
Ecumenical movement
Interdenominational cooperation
Christian union: use for works on prospective and actual mergers within and across
denominational lines.
Christian union--[place]
Christian union--[Christian denomination]
Christian union--[place]--[Christian denomination]
Church--Unity: use for works on unity as one of the "marks" of the church.
Ecumenical movement: use for works on a movement for the purpose of church
cooperation and unity, generally dated from the Edinburgh Missionary Conference of
1910 and leading to the formation of the World Council of Churches in 1948.
Ecumenical movement--[place]
Interdenominational cooperation: use for works on religious activities planned and
conducted cooperatively by two or more Christian sects.
Interdenominational cooperation--[place]
LCSH Workshop, ATLA Annual Conference June 17, 2009
Handout / EF Page 11
Religion and Religions:
Religion
Religions, Sects and Cults
Religions pattern
Differences in Religions pattern, Christianity, Religious sects and Christian
denominations
Political aspects: used for Sects
Political activity: used for Christian denominations
Religions, including Christianity, are entered in the form "Christianity and politics",
"Buddhism and politics", etc.
Psychology: used for Religions, Sects, and Christianity
Not used for Christian denominations
|x Rituals
|x Rituals |v Texts
|x Rituals |x Texts |v Concordances
|x Rituals |v Texts |x History and criticism
Use Rituals with subdivisions under Religions and Sects, but not for Christianity or
Judaism
Instead use Liturgy and subdivisions under Christianity, Christian denominations,
Judaism and sects of Judaism
|v Sacred books
|x Sacred books |x Hermeneutics
|x Sacred books |v Introductions
|x Sacred books |x Language, style
|x Sacred books |x Preservation (May Subd Geog)
|x Sacred books |v Quotations
Use under Religions and Sects only
Not used under Christianity or Christian denominations
|v Sermons
|v Sermons |x History and criticism
Use only under individual Sects or Christian denominations
For individual Religions, use headings of the type [name of religion] sermons, for
example, Buddhist sermons
For Christianity use Sermons unqualified
LCSH Workshop, ATLA Annual Conference June 17, 2009
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