PCC Resources for
October 17, 2011
PSD policy specialist responsible for this list: J. Young
CLASSIFICATION
B3624.G37-.G374
This proposal is for Eugenio Garin as a philosopher, but other books about him have classed in B51.6, biography of historians of philosophy. The meeting suggests that the cataloger reexamine the work to determine which number is better. The proposal may be resubmitted if necessary.
DS219.A25
The proposal is for ‘Awlaqī in Saudi Arabia, but the work cataloged and the associated subject proposal place the tribe in Yemen. A proposal for ‘Awlaqī in Yemen may be resubmitted.
HM873
This proposal is for collective memory as a cause of social change and doesn’t seem to fit the work being cataloged, which is a general work describing why history must be remembered so it is not repeated. The meeting recommends that HM1033, which has been used for other general works on collective memory, be considered for this work. The proposal was not approved.
LG169.M775
Lawrence College Ghora Gali is not an institution of higher learning, but an elementary- and secondary-level boys’ boarding school. The work should be classified at LG170.A-Z. The proposal was not approved.
QE515.3.A-Z
This proposal for geochemistry by region or country should follow the pattern established for many other geographic divisions in the QE schedule (e.g., QE443-456.5). The proposal may be resubmitted.
P-PZ20 136.5.S355
The proposal is for science fiction as a special topic of literature in general, and would include collections containing multiple forms of literature (e.g., fiction, poetry). The work being cataloged comprises fiction only, and should be cataloged using Table P-PZ20 175.5.S33, Science fiction as a form of prose literature. The proposal was not approved.
SUBJECT HEADINGS
Barite; Barium sulfate
This proposal was made to make the existing headings related terms to each other. Subject Headings Manual H 370 states that related term references may not be made between headings that begin with the same word or word stem. The proposal was not approved.
Canary Islanders
“Isleños” is not an alternate name for Canary Islanders, as this proposal to add a UF would suggest. Instead, it is an appellation of those of Canary Islands descent living in Louisiana and other places in the Americas. The existing heading Isleños will be retained. The proposal was not approved.
Constitutions
This proposal seeks to make the subdivision --Constitutions free-floating under types of corporate bodies. Phrase headings for individual types of corporate constitutions may be proposed and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The proposal was not approved.
Ecosystem services
This proposal attempts to add UFs for “Ecosystem goods and services” and its variants to the existing heading. In LCSH, headings for services also imply the goods, if any. The proposal was not approved.
Effeminacy
When this heading was initially approved on Tentative List 12 of 2011, the proposed UF “Male femininity” was removed. This proposal is attempting to add it back on, along with other UFs that appear to be definitions (e.g., “Female behavior in men”) and are unnecessary. The proposal was not approved.
Fürstengruft (Merseburger Dom, Merseberg, Germany)
All elements of a qualifier must be established in either the name authority file or in LCSH. Merseburger Dom has not been established yet. The proposal for Fürstengruft may be resubmitted along with a proposal for the Merseburger Dom.
Gay parents
This proposal seeks to add the UF “Gay couples as parents” to the existing heading. Gays who are parents may be either single or couples. The heading includes both, as explained in the scope note. The proposal was not approved.
Gran Canaria (Canary Islands); Hierro (Canary Islands)
Gran Canaria is already established in the name authority file (n 80162759), along with several subordinate bodies. Hierro and Graciosa, another of the Canary Islands, are established as subject headings. It appears that the individual islands of the Canaries may be self-governing to an extent. Additional research should be done to determine whether each of these islands constitutes a jurisdiction and should thus be established in the name authority file, or if they are non-jurisdictional islands and should be established as subject headings. Name authority records should be added, modified, or deleted as necessary, and proposals to add, modify, or cancel subject headings for Gran Canaria, Hierro, and Graciosa may be resubmitted.
Human trafficking—Law and legislation
The Summary of Decisions for Tentative List 01 of 2011 stated, “The subdivision --Law and legislation is not used under headings for individual crimes. The proposal was not approved.”
Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesia and Timor-Leste)
This proposal was made to add a qualifier to the existing heading Lesser Sunda Islands. SHM H 807 sec. 1.b states, “Do not qualify isolated islands or island groups … that comprise more than one autonomous jurisdiction.” The proposal was not approved.
Lookout Mountain (Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Wash.)
The original proposal for Lookout Mountain appeared on Tentative List 07 of 2011 in the form “Lookout Mountain (Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Wash.).” At that time, the qualifier was changed to Whatcom County, Wash., to conform to SHM H 810 sec. 1.c, which states, “Qualify a geographic heading by placing the name of the appropriate jurisdiction(s) within a single set of parentheses after the substantive portion of the heading.” The meeting recognizes that there are two Lookout mountains in Whatcom County, but in LCSH, headings for geographic features in the United States are differentiated to the county level only. The same heading should be used for both of the Lookout mountains in Whatcom County. If a library needs a deeper level of specificity, a local heading should be created. The proposal was not approved.
Neoclassical realism (International relations)
It appears that “neoclassical realism” is essentially a return to the theory of political realism, for which there is no subject heading (although there is a classification number). A heading for Political realism will be created. The proposal for neoclassical realism was not approved.
Paranormal fiction; Paranormal fiction, American
The distinction between paranormal fiction and occult fiction is too fine for cataloging purposes, since the genres often employ the same types of characters and themes. In recognition of the fact that fiction of this type is now more often called “paranormal” than “occult,” the existing heading Occult fiction will be revised to Paranormal fiction. The proposal was not approved.
Romanova, Evlampiia (Fictitious character)
According to the SHM H 1790, sec. 4.a, headings for fictitious characters are established and assigned for characters that have appeared in three or more separate literary works. Only one work was cited in the authority record. If the character is appeared in three or more works, the proposal may be resubmitted, with supporting evidence.
South Sudan—History—Civil War, 1955-1972; South Sudan—History—Civil War, 1983-2005
Sudan’s civil wars are already established as Sudan—History—Civil War, 1955-1972 and Sudan—History—Civil War, 1983-2005. According to H 710 sec. 3.b.1, when there is a jurisdictional split and the name of the earlier jurisdiction is retained by one of the later jurisdictions, works about the pre-split period may be assigned one or more headings: the pre-split jurisdictional name (for works on the entire pre-split jurisdiction); or, one or more post-split jurisdictional names (for works on the geographic area(s) corresponding to (a) post-split jurisdiction(s)).
In the case of the Sudanese civil wars, the fighting may have taken place chiefly in the area that is now the country of South Sudan, but it was the Sudanese government that was fighting the war. In other words, the entire pre-split jurisdiction was involved, necessitating the assignment of headings related to the entirety of pre-split Sudan.
Only wars that are established as subdivisions under the heading United States—History may also be established as an event under the locality (H 1200 sec. 3.b). Works about other wars in relation to a locality should be assigned the heading for the war, post-coordinated with the heading for the subordinate jurisdiction.
The proposals were not approved.
Testerians
According to the Summary of Decisions for Tentative List 18 of 2011, “Testerian is a pictorial writing system used to teach South American Indians about Christianity. Testerian is not established, and that would have to come first if the heading were to be approved. However, the research cited on the proposal appears to represent an individual manuscript called the Testerian catechism, which should be established as a name heading. The proposal was not approved.”
The new proposal, which provides a different form of heading (Testerians as opposed to Testerian catechisms), conflates the writing system with the catechisms and manuscripts written using the system. If a heading for Testerian manuscripts is necessary for the work being cataloged, there should be either two proposals submitted. As stated on TL 1118, the writing system must be separately established. A heading for Testerian manuscripts may also then be proposed. Note that to date, headings for catechisms in individual languages have been established (e.g., Catechisms, English; Catechisms, Maori), but for catechisms in individual writing systems, so there is no precedent for that type of heading. The proposal may be resubmitted.
Vasil’eva, Dasha (Fictitious character)
According to the SHM H 1790, sec. 4.a, headings for fictitious characters are established and assigned for characters that have appeared in three or more separate literary works. Only one work was cited in the authority record. If the character has appeared in three or more works, the proposal may be resubmitted, with supporting evidence.
Voters
The word “voter” or “elector” is used frequently in titles and usually refers to the elections, to the process of voting, and/or to voter behavior, and does not refer to the class of persons itself. If this proposal were approved, thousands of existing bibliographic records would have to be examined to determine which works, if any, are about the voters as a class, but no BFM was submitted. Works with those words in the title should be assigned one or more of the many headings reflecting the topic under discussion, such as [class of persons]—Political activity; Elections; Political campaigns; Political participation; Public opinion; and, Voting. For the work being cataloged, the meeting suggests assigning the headings Elections; Occupations; and Public opinion. The proposal was not approved.
Worldviews (Concepts)
Weltanschauung, or worldview, is almost always presented in the context of a topic and can be brought out by existing headings and subdivisions (e.g., --Attitudes; --Public opinion; Attitude (Psychology)). The proposal was not approved.
GENRE/FORM TERMS
Anti-Semitic films; Racist films
These proposals would require catalogers to make subjective decisions about the content of films. They were not approved.
Children’s cookbooks
Cookbooks for children often contain simple recipes and instructions, but the recipes themselves are not substantively different from those that would appear in “adult” cookbooks for the same dishes. Likewise, adult cookbooks often include some simple recipes that would be appropriate for children. Cookbooks for children may be cataloged by post-coordinating the existing genre/form term Cookbooks with appropriate LC subject headings, subdivided by –Juvenile literature (e.g., Holiday cooking—Juvenile literature; Sandwiches—Juvenile literature). The proposal was not approved.
Comic book films
The meeting does not wish to establish headings for film adaptations of particular types of works, such as comic books. So-called comic book films may be cataloged by post-coordinating the subject heading for the name of the character depicted with the existing genre/form term Film adaptations or other appropriate terms (e.g., Superhero films). The proposal was not approved.
Costume films; Costume television programs
It is unclear how a cataloger would apply the proposed headings, since their meaning is very diffuse. The sources consulted indicate that fantasy, epic, adventure, and historical films and television programs fall into this category; the only uniting element is the employment of lavish or otherwise notable costumes. It appears, therefore, that the proposed headings are general appellations and do not fall into the definition of form (a work with a particular format and/or purpose) or genre (categories of works that are characterized by similar plots, themes, settings, situations, and characters). Terms appropriate to the genre or form may be applied instead (e.g., Historical films; Epic television programs). The proposals were not approved.
Expressive-realist films; Neorealist films; Poetic realist films
These proposals represent distinctions that are too fine to be practical for cataloging purposes. They were not approved.
Figure-skating films
The meeting does not wish to establish moving image genre/form terms for films of individual activities that can be undertaken on skates. The broader term Skating films should be applied instead, post-coordinated with more specific subject headings, if desired. The proposal was not approved.
Film prequels; Television prequels
The proposals are based on the precedents of the existing terms Film sequels and Television sequels. After further examination the meeting has determined that the terms Film sequels and Television sequels are neither genres nor forms, and should therefore not be included in LCGFT. Individual films and television programs that appear to be sequels or prequels may be assigned subject headings and genre/form terms appropriate to the content, genre, and/or form of the film. The proposals were not approved, and the existing terms have been cancelled.
Homage films
So-called homage films may be made as a sign of respect for a producer, a particular film, a film genre, a film studio, etc. They may be of any form or genre, and do not themselves constitute a genre or form. The proposal was not approved.
Illusionist films
It seems that illusionist films are defined by their trick photography and special effects and not by their form or by genre elements such as plot or characters. All of the films listed in the source citations may be assigned the term Fantasy films, and several may also be assigned Trick films. The proposal was not approved
Imaginary maps
Imaginary maps – that is, maps of imaginary places – may take several forms. Imaginary maps do not themselves constitute a form. The term for the form of the map being cataloged (e.g., Military maps; Road maps; Topographic maps) may be post-coordinated with the subject heading for the imaginary place (e.g., Springfield (Imaginary place)). The proposal was not approved
Patriotic films
It is unclear what stylistic or formal qualities distinguish a patriotic film beyond a depiction of devotion to one’s country. This proposal would require catalogers to make subjective decisions about the content of films. It was not approved.
Orthophotomaps
The distinction between orthophotomaps and photomaps (a proposal for which also appears on this list) is to be too fine to be useful for cataloging purposes. An upward UF for “Orthophotomaps” will be added to the proposal for Photomaps, which has been approved. The proposal for Orthophotomaps was not approved.
Revisionist films
According to the sources cited, revisionist films make changes to the formulas of well-established genres and in so doing question long-standing assumptions about those genres. There is some question about how this term would be applied, since it could require subjective judgments and possibly even the viewing of the entire film. Other established genre/form terms, particularly for the genre being “revised,” should be assigned. The proposal was not approved.
Road atlases; Zoning atlases
As described in the FAQ for Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms, question 6 (http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/genre_form_faq.pdf), terms for the particular form or genre of map should be post-coordinated with the term Atlases unless the atlas is one of the four types already established: Atlas factice; Children’s atlases; Linguistic atlases; and, World atlases. The proposals were not approved.
Vigilante films
Vigilantes appear in films of many genres, including action and adventure films, western films, war films, and superhero films. Existing genre/form terms, post-coordinated with subject headings such as Vigilantes—Drama and Revenge—Drama. The proposal was not approved.
Virtual globes
There is some question as to whether this proposal would represent a manifestation or an expression. If the former, it is not appropriate as a genre/form term and the file characteristics should be brought out through descriptive elements only. Additionally, the meeting does not wish to approve more terms for specific types of globes at this time. The existing terms Digital maps and Globes may be post-coordinated. The proposal was not approved.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
South Sudan
PSD has completed a project to research existing subject headings related to Sudan to determine which of them needed to be modified to reflect the new country of South Sudan. Of the over 300 headings for historical time periods, ethnic groups, indigenous languages and literatures, geographic features (e.g., rivers), and man-made structures (e.g., bridges), over 200 had to be revised. Proposals for those updates appear on the Tentative Subject List.
The classification schedules have also been updated and those revisions appear on the Tentative Classification List. In the range for Sudan (DT154.1-159.9), cutters for ethnic groups that are now in South Sudan have been cancelled and parenthesized, and the captions for the general and local histories of the country have also been revised. A new classification array for South Sudan, DT159.915-159.978, has been approved.
In addition, a geographic cutter for South Sudan, S643, has been established and will be added to CSM G 300.
Military expeditions
In response to a query, PSD has reexamined the policy of establishing all expeditions, military or scientific, in the name authority file. Military expeditions that are campaigns, battles, sieges, etc. (e.g., Brest Expedition, 1694), should now be established in LCSH with MARC tag 150, while those that are not (e.g., Peary Auxililary Expedition (1894)) should be established in the name authority file using tag 111. The policy on scientific expeditions has not been revised; scientific expeditions continue to be established in the name authority file with the tag 111.
SHM H 405 will be updated to reflect this change. The majority of the revisions to LCSH appear on this list, although some appeared last month’s list and a few others will appear in future months.
