About the SACO Program

The Subject Authority Cooperative Program (SACO) was established to provide a means for libraries to submit subject headings and classification numbers to the Library of Congress via the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC).
Listed below are the basic requirements for libraries wishing to contribute subject heading proposals or changes for inclusion in Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and classification number proposals or changes for inclusion in the Library of Congress Classification (LCC) schedules.

Requirements:

In order to prevent duplication of effort participants should have access to the online Library of Congress authority files, both for name authorities and subject authorities, for searching purposes. In support of their contributions, participants are also expected to use the most current edition (including updates where applicable) of the following publications which are available from the Cataloging Distribution Service of the Library of Congress:

For subject headings:

• Library of Congress Subject Headings
• SUBJECT HEADINGS MANUAL
• FREE-FLOATING SUBDIVISIONS: An Alphabetical Index

For classification numbers:

• CLASSIFICATION AND SHELFLISTING MANUAL
• Library of Congress Classification Schedules (including the full run of Additions and Changes; or, one of the commercially available versions of the schedules)

In order to maintain familiarity with the provisions of the Subject Headings Manual and the practice of submitting heading and classification proposals, it is assumed that SACO-only participants will submit proposals on a regular basis. Each SACO-only institution is reminded that it has agreed/committed to an annual numerical contribution goal of 10-12 proposals. This numerical goal includes a combination of new or changed LCSH headings and/or new or changed LC classification numbers.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Participants may submit proposals using the LCSH proposal form on the PCC Home Page. Proposals should follow appropriate and current rules and policies stated in the Subject Headings Manual. Proposals are reviewed for editorial consistency by staff at the Library of Congress and, once reviewed, become part of LCSH or LCC.

TRAINING:

SACO workshops are offered by the PCC either in conjunction with library-related meetings or conferences, or as part of the jointly-developed ALCTS/PCC-Standing Committee on Training subject cataloging workshops available through the Catalogers Learning Workshop. LC encourages all participants to attend these workshops in order to learn more about the structure and application of LCSH.

Guidelines:

In order to facilitate participation in the SACO program instructional materials and forms have been developed that enable a contributor to submit proposals and changes to the Library of Congress. These forms are posted on the SACO Home Page:

• Subject Authority Proposal Form;
• Subject Heading Change Proposal Form;
• Subject Heading Change Guidelines, and
• the LC Classification proposal instructions and form.

INFORMATION:

For more information on SACO participation contact the Cooperative Programs Section by using the SACO email address.