PROPOSAL NO. 95-14

DATE: July 13, 1995
REVISED:

NAME: Addition of Subfield $f to Field 154 (General Explanatory Index Term) in the USMARC Classification Format

SOURCE: Library of Congress

SUMMARY: This paper proposes the definition of a subfield $f (Schedule identification) in field 154 to indicate the portion of a classification schedule to which the term applies. The data element is needed for the conversion of the Library of Congress Classification to machine- readable form because it is necessary to identify which schedule the index term pertains to.

KEYWORDS: Subfield $f, in field 154 (Classification); General Explanatory Index Term; Schedule identification

RELATED:

STATUS/COMMENTS:

7/13/95 - Forwarded to USMARC Advisory Group for discussion on the USMARC list.

9/7/95 - Approved electronically.

Some concern was expressed that the data would be used only locally for printing schedules and belongs in a local field. LC responded that separation of schedules by subject areas may be desired online and the information needs to be communicated for that reason. It provides a context for using the particular general index term.


PROPOSAL NO. 95-14: Addition of Subfield $f to Field 154 
(General Explanatory Index Term) 

1.      BACKGROUND

        When the USMARC Classification Format was developed, Field 154
was included for a general explanatory index term that did not
refer to a specific classification number, but to a concept.  Most
index terms are included in the record for the classification
number to which they refer.  In these cases, field 753 (Index
Term -- Uncontrolled) is to direct the user to different locations
within the classification scheme for classifying the topic.

        Although field 154 was developed for use by the National
Library of Medicine Classification and the Dewey Decimal
Classification, in which these situations occasionally occur, the
experience with the conversion of LCC has indicated a need for
field 154 in that scheme as well.  However, since LCC consists of
some 46 or more schedules, divided generally by discipline, it is
necessary to specify in which schedule or subclass the index term
occurs.  Currently there is no data element to serve that function
in the classification record, since in cases where field 154 is
used, there is no field 153 containing a classification number. 
The identification is needed in order for the index term to be
displayed in the appropriate schedule.

        For instance, the index to the E-F schedule (History: America)
contains the following entry in the index:

        Civil wars, see Military history under individual countries

To retain the index term, a record is created as follows:

008/06          c (Type of record: Index term record)
154             $aCivil wars
753             $uMilitary history under individual countries

In an online system with a master database of records from all of
the LCC classification schedules, this record has nothing to
identify the fact that it came from class E-F.  Thus, when the
records containing those classes are brought together as a subset
for display or printing, the index term is lost, since it cannot be
related to a particular schedule.

2.      PROPOSED CHANGE

        The following is presented for consideration:

        -       Add Subfield $f (Schedule identification) in field 154 in
                the USMARC Classification Format

        See Attachment A for a description of the field if this change
is approved.

------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              ATTACHMENT A

154   General Explanatory Index Term  (NR)

Indicators

 First       Undefined
    #          Undefined

 Second      Undefined
    #          Undefined

Subfield Codes

  $a   General explanatory index term  (NR)
  $b   General explanatory index term--succeeding level  (R)
  $f   Schedule identification  (R)



FIELD DEFINITION AND SCOPE

    This field contains a general explanatory term from the index to
the classification scheme that is identified in field 084
(Classification Scheme and Edition).  Field 154 is appropriate only
in an index term record (008/06, Kind of record, code c) that is
created because the index term cannot be accommodated in a 70X-75X
Index Term field in a schedule or table record (008/06, code a or
b) that contains a classification number in field 153
(Classification Number).  This occurs when the index term is not
associated with one classification number or span.  Field 753
(Index Term -- Uncontrolled) is always used in a record containing
field 154 to direct the user to different locations within the
classification scheme for classifying the topic.



GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING CONTENT DESIGNATORS

 INDICATORS

    Both indicator positions are undefined; each contains a blank
(#).


 SUBFIELD CODES

$a - General explanatory index term
    Subfield $a contains a general explanatory index term
    representing a general concept that may be found in numerous
    places in the classification scheme identified in field 084
    (Classification Scheme and Edition).

    008/06       c   [index term record]
    084      0#$anlm$c4th ed., rev.[National Library of Medicine
             Classification]
    154      ##$aResearch
    753      ##$i(Form number 20 or 20.5 in any NLM schedule where
             applicable)
    753      ##$iOther fields outside the NLM area, in appropriate LC
             number           

    008/06       c   [index term record]
    084      0#$anlm$c4th ed., rev.   [National Library of Medicine
             Classification]
    154      ##$aFollow-up studies
    753      ##$i(Form number 20 in any NLM schedule where
             applicable)
    753      ##$iIn a particular area, with the subject of the
             original study, e.g. Heart Diseases,$eWG 200

    008/06       c   [index term record]
    084      0#$addc$bSistema de Clasificación Decimal$c1980$espa
    154      ##$aEl
    753      ##$iv.a. la palabra que sigue al artículo en los nombres
             geográficos que comienzan con el artículo "el"
             [Translation of 753: see also the word that follows the
             article in geographic names that begin with the article
             "el"]

$b - General explanatory index term -- succeeding level
    Subfield $b contains a term at a level after the first in a
    general explanatory index term.

    008/06       c   [index term record]
    084      0#$alcc  [Library of Congress Classification]
    154      ##$aAdministration$bOrganization$fH
    753      ##$uOrganization and administration

$f - Schedule identification
    Subfield $f contains the identification of the schedule or
    subclass to which the general explanatory index term is
    related.

    008/06       c [index term record]
    084      0#$alcc  [Library of Congress Classification]
    154      $aCivil wars$fE-F
    753      $uMilitary history under individual countries
    



RELATED USMARC DOCUMENT/FIELD

    008/06       Kind of record
    084          Classification Scheme and Edition
    753          Index Term--Uncontrolled


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