7.0 Main headings
The main heading is that part of the subject heading string which represents the main concept without subdivision. Main headings may be categorized according to their functions: topical headings, form headings, and different kinds of proper name headings. They vary in syntax as well as in type.7.1 Types and functions of main headings
Main headings represent individual concepts or objects, bibliographic or artistic forms, and individual named entities.7.2 Syntax7.12 Form headings
A form heading reflects what the bibliographic item is rather than what it is about.7.121 Bibliographic form
Bibliographic form headings are intended for items not restricted to any particular subject or for items dealing with large number of subjects, such as general reference works.7.122 Artistic and literary formArtistic or literary form headings represent the literary genres or artistic media of the items rather than their subject content, particularly in the fields of literature, art, and music.
7.21 Topical and form headings8.0 SubdivisionsAll main headings consist of single nouns or noun equivalents. Noun equivalents may be in the form of adjectives or gerunds or in the form of adjectival phrases, conjunctive phrases, or prepositional phrases. Qualifiers are added to headings when necessary.
8.1 Types and functions
The concept embodied in the subdivision usually reflects a secondary emphasis with relation to the main heading. Four types of subdivisions are used: topical, form, geographic, and chronological.9.0 Pre-coordination and synthesis8.12 Form subdivisions
A form subdivision represents the bibliographic or literary or artistic form in which the material on a subject is organized and/or presented. As in the case of a form heading, a form subdivision usually indicates what the work is rather than what it is about. Occasionally, a form subdivision may also represent works about the particular form.
9.2 Headings with subdivisions
9.24 Order of subdivisions14.0 Order of display in the printed and microfiche versions of Library of Congress Subject HeadingsThe citation order for subdivisions normally conforms to the pattern-TOPIC-PLACE-TIME-FORM with variations, particularly with regard ì to the position of the geographic subdivision, which may appear in any position after a topical main heading.
14.3 Subdivisions (alphabetico-classed)
Subdivisions under a main heading are arranged by type of subdivision in the following order: chronological, topical/form, and geographic.14.32 Topical/form subdivisions
Topical and form subdivisions are interfiled in alphabetical order.
20.0 Assigning subject and form headings
Where appropriate, one or more authorized Library of Congress (LC) subject headings representing the subject content or the form of a bibliographic item are assigned as subject access point(s) to the LC MARC (MAchine-Readable Cataloging) record for the item.24.0 Assignment of main headings
Main headings are used to bring out the major concept(s) or feature(s) of the work being cataloged.24.2 Form headings
Form headings are often assigned to general works such as collective biography and general encyclopedias and works on topics too numerous to have individual topical headings. In certain subject areas such as art, literature, and music, form or genre headings are often assigned as the primary headings, with additional topical headings assigned when appropriate.25.0 Use of subdivisions
25.2 Form subdivisions
Form subdivisions provided under individual headings in the Subject Authority File are authorized for use when applicable. Free-floating form subdivisions may be combined with appropriate main headings according to established procedures. The same form subdivision is added to all subject headings assigned to a particular record, except when the heading represents a part of the work that is in a different form or when the subdivision in question is not authorized under the particular heading.
40.0 Assigning subject headings to special materials
41.0 Specific types of materials
Materials in specific bibliographic forms, about particular named entities, or for special readers require additional headings or special headings.41.1 Reference works
Subject headings are used to reflect both the subject focus and the bibliographic form of reference works.41.2 Serial publications41.11 Topical and name headings
Topical or name headings with appropriate form subdivisions are assigned to reference works focusing on a topic, a person, or a named entity. For works about reference works, a general form heading, with a language qualifier or a topical subdivision if applicable, is assigned. For reference works about a particular type or form such as directories, a topical heading containing the term representing the type or form is assigned.41.12 Form headingsFor reference works with no subject focus or for those covering more than four topics, headings representing the bibliographic forms may be assigned. For certain types of reference works such as bibliographies of dissertations and theses, a form heading is assigned in addition to topical headings.43.14 Form subdivisionsSubdivisions representing the bibliographic or physical form of a work are added to topical and proper name headings assigned to the particular work.
In general, subject headings are not assigned to serial publications with no special subject focus. Headings are assigned to serial publications on specific subjects to bring out both the topical focus and the bibliographic form.41.3. Works about persons41.22 Form headings
For general serial publications which require no topical or proper name headings, form headings are used only for minor forms, such as ALMANACS.41.23 Form subdivisionsThe subdivision-PERIODICALS is added to topical and proper name headings assigned to a periodical (i.e., a publication other than a newspaper that is actually or purportedly issued according to a regular schedule (monthly, quarterly, three times a year, etc.) in successive parts each of which bears a numerical or chronological designation and intended to be continued indefinitely). With a number of exceptions, the subdivision-PERIODICALS may be used as a further subdivision under another form subdivision. The subdivision-NEWSPAPERS is used for individual newspapers which deal with a specific topic or ethnic group.41.24 Works about periodicalsNo attempt is made to distinguish between works in periodical form on specific subjects and works about such periodicals. Identical heading/subdivision combinations are assigned to both.
41.32 Form headings41.6 Works related to other worksFor a general collective biography not identified with a particular subject field or place, the form heading BIOGRAPHY or a heading representing a special form of biography, such as AUTOBIOGRAPHIES, ANECDOTES, and DIARIES, is assigned.41.34 SubdivisionsSubdivisions denoting biography and those denoting other aspects are combined with main headings to limit the scope of the heading.
41.61 Manifestations and extensions of the original work41.7 Juvenile materialsSubject headings identical to those assigned to the original work are assigned to editions, supplements, and translations, provided the subject content remains basically the same. For the index to an individual work, the name-title heading or the uniform title for the original work with the subdivision-INDEXES is assigned as the primary heading. In addition, headings identical to those assigned to the original work, modified by adding appropriate form subdivision(s), are used.
Main headings implying juvenile materials are used if available; otherwise, regular headings with subdivisions indicating the juvenile nature of the materials are used.42.0 Works in special subject areas41.71 Regular headings with juvenile subdivisions
41.711 Topical juvenile materialsJuvenile materials on specific subjects, including textbooks, are assigned appropriate topical headings with juvenile subdivisions to bring out both the subject matter and the juvenile nature of the works.41.712 Juvenile belles lettresJuvenile literary form headings, if available, and/or regular literary form headings without juvenile subdivisions are assigned to belles lettres for children, excluding those intended only for young adults. Topical headings with juvenile literary form subdivisions may also be assigned to bring out themes, places, etc.
42.1 Fine art
Works about art and/or artists treated either collectively or individually and collections of reproductions of art may be assigned headings which bring out the various aspects of art treated in the work, including form or genre, historical period, place of origin, style or movement, theme, present location, ownership, etc.42.2 Cartographic materials42.11 Art formThe most specific art form heading or headings available, with qualifiers where appropriate, are assigned as primary heading(s).42.13 Style or movementHeadings are assigned to show the style or movement to which the art belongs.
For cartographic materials, subject headings are assigned to provide access to physical areas, topical focuses, special cartographic forms, and persons associated with the area(s) or topic(s) represented in the item. Form of material may also be represented by either form headings or form subdivisions under geographic, topical, or personal headings.42.4 Law42.24 Form headings
In addition to geographic, topical, and personal headings, special cartographic form headings are assigned except for general maps and atlases. In some cases, form headings representing types of physical medium are also assigned.42.25 Subdivisions42.251 Form subdivisionsForm subdivisions are added to geographic, topical, and personal headings to indicate the cartographic form of the item.42.2511 General form subdivisions
General form subdivisions for maps include-MAPS; --MAPS, TOURIST; and-ROAD MAPS.42.2512 Special form subdivisionsSpecial cartographic form subdivisions such as-MAPS, TOPOGRAPHIC; --MAPS, MANUSCRIPT; --DESCRIPTION-VIEWS; and-CHARTS, DIAGRAMS, ETC. are assigned when applicable and authorized for use under the particular heading.
For materials in law, subject headings are assigned to provide access to legal topics, legal systems, persons involved in trials, and forms of publication. The publication forms may also be represented by bibliographic form subdivisions or legal subdivisions.42.5. Literature42.43. Form headingsA limited number of legal form headings are used. They are assigned to nontopical compilations of court decisions, nontopical collections of administrative regulations and rules, collections or proceedings of trials, and nontopical collections of treaties.42.44. SubdivisionsSpecial subdivisions are used to bring out legal, geographic, or form aspects not represented in the main heading.
Works in the field of literature consist of literary works and works about them. ... Works about literature may focus on literature in general, on a type or form of literature, on a particular author, or on a particular work. In subject cataloging, the major facets to be considered are literary form, theme, and character. Subject headings are assigned to bring out these aspects when appropriate. Works of literature and those about literature are distinguished by the syntax and/or the terminology of the headings or by means of subdivisions.42.6 Music42.51 Literary form headings
The form or genre of a literary work is considered its primary facet. A literary form heading may consist of a term denoting the genre, which may carry a language or national qualifier and/or a chronological subdivision. The most specific literary form heading is assigned as the primary heading to all literary works and works about them, expect for individual works in a major form, i.e., fiction, drama, or poetry, to which no literary form headings are assigned.42.54 Headings combining form and topicHeadings containing terms denoting literary form as well as topic, when available, are preferred to headings in the form of [TOPIC]--[LITERARY FORM SUBDIVISION].42.55 Literary form subdivisionsLiterary form subdivisions-DRAMA, --FICTION, --LITERARY COLLECTIONS, and-POETRY are used only under topical or name headings assigned to literary works. They are not used under literary form headings.
Works in the field of music consist of specimens of music (scores, librettos, recordings) and works about them. Works about music are assigned appropriate headings representing their content according to general guidelines. For works containing specimens of music, headings representing musical forms, instruments, specific styles and genres, and ethnic or national groups are assigned.42.61 Headings representing musical forms
Musical form headings are assigned to musical works in specific forms. Such headings may or may not contain medium qualifiers.42.62 Topical headingsFor works focusing on special styles, genres, and topics or relating to specific ethnic or national groups, appropriate topical headings are assigned.42.621 Headings for special styles, genres, and topics
Headings representing styles, genres, and topics are assigned in addition to those for medium or musical form.42.63 Musical subdivisionsIn addition to the general subdivisions and subdivisions under pattern headings, certain special subdivisions are used to bring out the musical format (scores and parts) of the works.
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