PCC Resources for
April 20, 2015
PSD policy specialist responsible for this list: J. Young
CLASSIFICATION
DS432.S93
This proposal may be resubmitted with a resubmitted subject proposal. See below, under Sumi (Indic people); Sumi Naga (Indic people), for details.
DS485.T38
This proposal may be resubmitted with a resubmitted subject proposal. See below, under Tel River Valley (India), for details.
PK3798.N555
Nirasanamiśra already has an established literary author number, PK3799.N56. The proposal was not necessary.
PL8430.L33
In keeping with the meeting’s decision to retain the subject heading Lagoon languages (see below), this proposal cancel the classification number was not approved.
SUBJECT HEADINGS
Announcements:
Official websites for GNIS and Geonames
Government data, such as that for geographic information, is often reused in other websites. PSD policy specialists have begun to notice a significant uptick in the number of proposals for geographic subject headings that cite http://www.geonames.org. Geonames.org should not be confused with the official websites of the BGN, although the URLs look similar. Geonames.org is a mashup of geographic data from almost 80 sources, from multiple countries and in multiple languages. Citing it does not fulfill the requirement to cite either GNIS or GNS in geographic subject proposals. The URLs for the required sources are provided in SHM H 690 and are as follows:
GNIS (domestic names): http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/index.html
GNS (foreign names): http://geonames.nga.mil/namesgaz/
Choreographic works
Bibliographic resources may discuss one or more choreographic works. Headings for individual choreographic works are established in the name authority file according to RDA instructions, and those headings may be used as subjects.
It is common for resources to collectively discuss several related choreographic works that share the same music or story, and often also share a title. In some other cases, it may not be possible to determine which individual choreographic work is being discussed in the resource being cataloged, usually because the choreographic work is referred to solely by title. Headings that represent these cases were established in the name authority file under guidance provided in an LCRI. Effective immediately, they are now established in LCSH.
PSD has issued a new SHM instruction sheet, H 1366.5, Choreographic Works, which provides guidance on establishing those headings and on the assignment of headings to resoruces on choreographic works in general. It is available as a freely downloadable PDF at http://www.loc.gov/aba/publications/FreeSHM/H1366_5.pdf and it will be added to Cataloger’s Desktop in the next update.
MARC coding in the 682 field of proposals to cancel headings
On March 4, 2015, PSD announced that the MARC coding of the 682 field (Deleted Heading Information) was being revised in order to better support automated linking (http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/150304.pdf). All proposals to cancel headings should now contain the new coding, in which the LCCN(s) are contained in subfield $0 (zero), not subfield $a, and are preceded by the legend (DLC). SHM instruction sheet H 193.5 has been updated to reflect the new coding. For example,
682 ## $i This authority record has been deleted because the subject
heading is covered by the name heading $a __________ $0 (DLC)n XXXXXXXX
PSD has begun to receive proposals with the new coding, and the meeting would like to clarify a misunderstanding that appears to have been caused by the typography of the announcement: there should not be a space between the DLC and the number. The only spaces should be those between the LCCN prefix (if any) and the digits. For example, where # represents a space:
$0 (DLC)n#2015123456
$0 (DLC)n##99345678
$0 (DLC)no#95456789
$0 (DLC)sh2013234567
The most reliable way to include the correct number of spaces is to copy-and-paste the LCCN being cancelled.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In February 2015, Bosnia and Hercegovina was removed from the list of exceptions in LC-PCC PS 16.2.2.3, and the BGN-approved form of name, Bosnia and Herzegovina, is now the authorized form of heading. Over 80 LCSH authority records in which Bosnia and Herzegovina is used in a qualifier or scope note, or as a geographic subdivision in a broader term reference, appeared on this list.
Climatic changes—Environmental aspects
The heading Climatic changes—Environmental aspects was cancelled on this list because climate change is inherently environmental. SHM H 1095 sec. 3 states, “Use a free-floating subdivision under a topical heading only when the topic of the subdivision is not already implied in the heading itself” [emphasis in original].
This specific [heading]—[subdivision] combination was proposed and approved for LCSH, which shows how easy it is to make this sort of error. Other recent examples of invalid combinations that were used on a free-floating basis have been Depressions—Economic aspects and headings of the type […] policy—Political aspects (e.g., Environmental policy—Political aspects). The meeting wanted to take this opportunity to remind catalogers to try to avoid creating redundant headings such as this.
Library of Congress Demographic Group Terms
The Subject Proposal System’s main menu now includes an option to propose terms for inclusion in Library of Congress Demographic Group Terms (LCDGT). PSD is developing LCDGT, which will eventually be used to explicitly record the intended audience and creator/contributor characteristics of some library materials.
At this time, PSD is not accepting proposals for the vocabulary from catalogers at LC or in SACO institutions. Instead, all proposals are being made by PSD staff members.
More information about LCDGT will be forthcoming over the next several months. Any announcements that appear in future Summaries of Decisions will appear at the end of the Summary, in a section labeled Demographic Group Terms.
Other decisions:
Banana republics
Several standard reference sources indicate that the phrase “banana republic” is often considered to be pejorative. The meeting suggests that the existing headings Developing countries and Banana trade may be appropriate for the work being cataloged. The proposal was not approved.
Barnard Castle (Durham, England)
This castle is already established as Barnard Castle (Barnard Castle, England). The proposal was not necessary.
Cartonera books
SHM H 202 sec. 2.a(1) states, “Thorough authority research demonstrating that the term selected for the proposed heading is the appropriate one must be done for all concepts that are new to the LC subject heading system and outside the scope of simple and obvious pattern situations.” There was not any research provided for this proposal. The proposal may be resubmitted.
Chattisgarhi dialect—Spoken Chattisghari
The subdivision –Spoken [name of language] is free-floating under headings for languages, per SHM H 1154. The proposal was not necessary.
Christian drama, Xhosa
Headings for literary genres qualified by language refer to the original language of the work. Judging by a note in the bibliographic record, the work being cataloged is a translation into Xhosa of an English-language drama. Christian drama, English—Translations into Xhosa should be assigned. The proposal was not approved.
Chuksŏru (Korea)
There wasn’t any English-language information provided in the authority record. Information on the structure, including its function and location, may be taken from an English reference source or translated from Korean. The proposal may be resubmitted.
Folk songs, Sikkimese
This proposal was made to add what appears to be the Sikkimese phrase for “folk songs” as a UF to the existing record. UFs from foreign terms are added to topical headings only if the foreign term is in “widespread use” in English-language sources (SHM H 373 sec. 7). The proposal was not approved.
Fournet family
Fournet is a variant form of Fournier, which has already been established in LCSH as Fournier family. Fournet family will be added as a UF to the existing heading. The proposal was not approved.
Indians of North America—Canada—Antiquities
This proposal was made to add a BT Canada—Antiquities to the existing heading. There is no precedent for including a BTs such as this on headings of the type Indians of North America—[place]—Antiquities. The proposal also sought to add two classification numbers to the record, neither of which were “identical or nearly identical in scope, meaning, and language to the subject heading” (SHM H 365). The proposal was not approved.
Jacaras in literature
The work appears to be about the Spanish literary form jácara, not about jacaras as depicted in literature. The related proposal Jácaras was approved and should be assigned to the work. This proposal was not necessary.
Kurds
This proposal sought to add a UF Kurdish people to the existing heading. The meeting did not wish to start this precedent, as it could lead to UFs for [adjective] people on most, if not all, headings for nationalities. The proposal was not approved.
Lagoon languages
The proposal indicated that this heading was being proposed for cancellation because the heading refers to the languages of a region and not a true linguistic grouping. The statement is true, but LCSH does include headings for language groupings based on the region in which the languages are spoken. There are books and articles written about the Lagoon languages, so the meeting chose to retain the heading, but will not use it as a BT for specific languages. The proposal was not approved.
London Stones (London, England)
The work can be adequately cataloged with the existing heading Boundary stones—England—London. The proposal was not approved.
Mādāri Hāt (India)
The source citations provided make it clear that Mādāri Hāt is a populated place. As such, it should be established in the name authority file. The proposal was not approved.
Muscovite-Lithuanian War, 1486-1494
The only citation provided in this proposal was to Wikipedia, which does not fully support the name of the war, nor the dates chosen for the heading. The meeting does note, though, that several authoritative sources were checked and properly noted in the 675 (Source data not found) field.
The meeting found several citations that contradict the form of heading. The Dictionary of Battles and Sieges by Tony Jacques (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2007) indicates that the First Muscovite-Lithuanian War occurred in 1500-1502. Medieval Polish Armies, 966-1500 by Witold Sarnecki (New York: Osprey, 2012) says that there was a war between Muscovy and Lithuania between 1492 and 1494, but does not give the war a proper name. Russiapedia (http://russiapedia.rt.com/) has an article on Ivan III that indicates that there were two wars between Moscow and Lithuania in 1492 and 1500, but again does not name them. Finally, Frederick Adams Woods and Alexander Baltzly in Is War Diminishing? (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1915) indicate that there was a war between Lithuania and Moscow from 1492-1494.
Three of the four sources, then, support the dates 1492-1494. Information from the work being cataloged would be helpful in this case. What justification did the author give for choosing 1486 as the beginning date of the war? Is that justification strong enough to refute the generally accepted dates given in the English-language sources?
The proposal may be resubmitted.
Philosophy in art
It seems from an online description that the work being cataloged may be assigned the existing heading Art—Philosophy. If not, then the proposal for Philosophy in art may be resubmitted with contrasting scope notes indicating the difference among it, Art—Philosophy, and Art and philosophy. The proposal may be resubmitted.
Prisoners’ writings, Urdu
The work being cataloged is an autobiography of a poet, which should be assigned a subject heading for the name of the poet and another Authors, Urdu—Biography. Headings such as the one proposed are assigned only to collections of writings by multiple authors (see H 1775 sec. 3.a). The proposal was not necessary.
Provinces
The word province does not have a consistent meaning. First, every country with provinces defines them uniquely. For example, Canadian provinces are first-order political subdivisions, while in Spain they are second-order political subdivisions. A province is also a level of jurisdiction in some Christian churches and religious orders, and is a type of physiographic division.
The heading is not needed to provide entry terminology, since every heading in the form [country] provinces has a UF Provinces of [country] (e.g., Provinces of Canada USE Canadian provinces). The see also note in the proposal is also unnecessary because it merely repeats scope notes and see also notes found in all of the [country] provinces headings.
The meeting also notes, as an aside, that there does not appear to be a work requiring the subject heading, which is a requirement for subject proposals (see SHM H 187). Given the broad range of meanings of the word, it is hard to imagine a general work describing provinces as a general concept.
The proposal was not approved.
Shailer family
Shailer is a variant of Shaller. Shailer family will be added as a UF to the existing heading Shaller family.
Sounds (Geomorphology)
Two definitions of geomorphological sounds can be found in reference sources: 1. a long, narrow waterway connecting two larger bodies of water, and 2. a large and broad inlet of an ocean that is roughly parallel to the coast. The first of those definitions is more or less equivalent to the definition of a strait; the distinction between the two seems to be one of extent, with a sound generally considered to be wider than a strait. Most general dictionaries also list the same synonyms for each, including channel, strait (for sound), sound (for strait), and narrows.
There is a long-established practice in LCSH that the heading Straits refers to waterways connecting two larger bodies of water, and Sounds (Geomorphology) refers to broad ocean inlets. The meeting wishes to maintain that distinction.
The proposal to add UFs for channels, passages, etc., was not approved.
Stadium ushers
With the exception of church ushers, which are already represented by a heading, ushers in various venues all perform essentially the same task: to direct people to their seats and to other facilities within the venues. The existing heading, Ushers, adequately describes works about this class of persons. The proposal was not approved.
Sudanese Arabic language
Works about Arabic as spoken in a particular country are assigned the heading Arabic language—[country] and/or Arabic language—Dialects—[country]. The proposal was not approved.
Sumi (Indic people); Sumi Naga (Indic people)
The same work being cataloged, the same reference sources, and even the same information in those sources were used to support two separate proposals. Ethnologue and Joshua Project both seem to indicate that the Sumi and Sumi Naga are the same people. More research should be done to determine whether they really are the same group. If they are, a single proposal should be resubmitted. If the groups really are distinct, then source citations that clearly show how they are different should be provided on two resubmitted proposals.
Sûre River Valley
The UFs proposed are not supported by source citations. The proposal may be resubmitted.
Tel River Valley (India)
The river has not yet been established, and must be proposed along with the heading for the valley (SHM H 800). The proposal may be resubmitted.
Turkish provinces in literature
The work being cataloged is “Edebiyatın taşradan manifestosu.” The word taşra means provincial, but often in the sense of being rustic or not from a large city. The proposal may be resubmitted with a brief English summary of the work being cataloged if it is about the depiction in literature of Turkish provinces as geopolitical entities.
Vindhyanchal-Baghelkhand Region (India)
According to SHM H 690, the proposed heading should be based on the approved BGN form, while any variant forms found there or in other resources should be provides as UFs. In this case, the approved BGN form was not even noted in the Geonet citation in the record. The proposal may be resubmitted.
Zolochiv Castle (Lʹvivsʹka oblastʹ, Ukraine)
Headings for buildings are established in the vernacular if they were built after 1500, and in English if they were built before that date (SHM H 1334 sec. 2.d). In addition, buildings are qualified by the name of the country in which they are located (except in the case of buildings in one of the exceptional countries). If there is a conflict, they are qualified by the city in which they are located; only in truly exceptional circumstances are they qualified at a jurisdictional level other than country or city. The proposal does not include any information about date the castle was built, nor any information indicating a conflict with another castle by the same name in Ukraine. The proposal may be resubmitted.
GENRE/FORM TERMS
Reflexive films
Most of the films cited in the proposal make only passing reference to movie making, and references to “their own fictionality” (a phrase used in the proposed scope note) do not constitute substantial portions of the films. The term Reflexive films would be difficult to assign without viewing the entire film cataloged to discover whether it included reflexive moments, and is thus of marginal utility. The proposal was not approved.
Revolutionary films
The scope note defines “revolutionary films” in two ways: those that are subversive to the society in which they are created, and those that are focused on liberation struggles. With regard to the first definition, one person’s subversive film may be another’s patriotic film. The definition is not based on objective formal qualities, but on the filmmaker’s and the viewers’ perspectives, which may differ from place to place or over time. As for the second definition, there are a lot of films about liberation struggles that are anything but subversive, particularly if by liberation struggle one means any revolution against a colonial empire, despotic leader, etc. If a film has a war as its central element, the term War films may be assigned. The proposal was not approved.
