Some Common Library of Congress Subject Subdivision Patterns and Caveats

Introduction

The following points — primarily intended for copy cataloguers — are a selection of explanations of patterns that are frequently observed in Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) strings and answers to questions that often come up when working with LCSH subdivisions.  They do not represent a systematic presentation of LCSH policy, nor do they anticipate any future changes in LCSH policies or practise.

For more comprehensive explanations, see LC’s own publication, Subject Cataloging Manual:  Subject Headings, H1075-H2400.

For the most current information on a given subdivision, see Subject Cataloging Manual:  Subject Headings and the LC subject authority file.

For additional general background, see also our document “Introduction to Library of Congress Subject Headings” and the Subject Cataloging Manual:  Subject Headings.

Topical subdivisions ($x)

• Application:

  Topical subdivisions are used under all types of subject headings — personal, corporate, family, and geographic names, uniform titles, and topical headings — to represent a particular subtopic and narrow down the broader subject.  A topical subdivision may represent a concept, attribute, aspect, action or process, methodology or technique, a part of the whole, or another category of term.  Some examples include:

  E.g.    $x Philosophy      [concept]

  $x Density      [attribute, under types of chemicals]

  $x Psychological aspects      [aspect]

  $x Employee participation      [action or process]

  $x Aging      [action or process]

  $x Statistical methods       [methodology]

  $x Respiratory organs      [part of the whole, under types of animals]

  $x Museums      [part of the whole, under names of corporate bodies]

  • Many of these subdivisions are listed in the lists of free-floating subdivisions located in the Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings, sections H1095-H1200, together with scope notes indicating when they are applicable.  Freefloating subdivisions can also be searched in the LC/SACO authority file; authority records for freefloating subdivisions include instructions for their appropriate use. For examples of some frequently used free-floating subdivisions, see section 5 below, “Some common subdivisions.”

  • Some topical subdivisions, on the other hand, are specifically authorised for use only with certain headings; individual authority records are provided for such main-heading-plus-subdivision subject heading strings.

    E.g.    650  0  $a Theaters $x Stage-setting and scenery.

• Order:  Many topical subdivisions follow geographic subdivisions in the same subject heading string.  However, a fair number of topical subdivisions precede geographic subdivisions.  Examples of the latter category, which are indicated in the free-floating subdivision lists followed by “(May Subd Geog),” include:

  E.g.    $x Employment (May Subd Geog)

  $x Government policy (May Subd Geog)

  $x Social aspects (May Subd Geog)

  E.g.    650  0  $a Women $z Argentina $x Economic conditions.

      but

  650  0  $a Women $x Employment $z Argentina.

  Since 1991, an increasing number of subdivisions have been switched to the pattern of preceding geographic subdivisions.  (See also Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings, section H860.)

  While there do not appear to be any clearcut criteria for determining which subdivisions belong in this category, you will probably become familiar with several of them as you use them.

Form subdivisions ($v)

• Application:  Form subdivisions indicate the nature of the material rather than something about its content; in other words, they indicate what a work is, not what it is about.  Examples include:

  E.g.    $v Bibliography

  $v Catalogs

  $v Dictionaries

  $v Early works to 1800

  [considered to be a form subdivision, not a chronological one, because the approach to the subject matter may not be chronologically based]

  $v Exhibitions

  $v Periodicals

  $v Textbooks

  A problem:  Some subdivisions that might be considered to represent the nature of a work are actually used in LCSH as topical subdivisions.  Major examples of these sometimes confusing subdivisions include:

  • $x Research:

    Should be used for works about research on a given topic, not for examples of that research.

  • $x Study and teaching:

    Should be used for works about teaching or how to teach in a given subject area — such as pedadogical guides or evaluations of education — not for texts that teach that subject.

  Also, a subdivision that often functions as a form subdivision may be applied and coded as a $x topical subdivision when a work is about a particular form of publication.

  E.g.    A history of [about] magazines about camels as an artistic theme:

        650  0  $a Camels in art $x Periodicals $x History.

  E.g.    A bibliography of speleology textbooks:

        650  0  $a Speleology $x Textbooks $v Bibliography.

• Order:  Form subdivisions are nearly always placed at the end of a subject heading string.

  E.g.    650  0  $a Art, Tanzanian $z Tanzania $z Zanzibar $v Catalogs.

  650  0  $a Beach erosion $z Florida $z Pensacola Beach $x History $y 20th century $v Bibliography.

  Exceptions occur when a work is about a particular form of publication and when more than one form subdivision is applicable.

  E.g.    A history of magazines about camels as an artistic theme:

      650 0 $a Camels in art $x Periodicals $x History.

  A periodically issued bibliography of Russian dictionaries:

      650 0 $a Russian language $x Dictionaries $v Bibliography $v Periodicals.

Chronological subdivisions ($y)

• Application:  Chronological subdivisions are applicable when the work covers the history, or an aspect of the history, of a given topic, corporate body, or place during a limited time period.

  Because of LCSH rules, such subdivisions are handled differently under different types of headings.

  • Under topical and corporate body headings:  With few exceptions — spelled out specifically in authority records — the only chronological subdivisions available under topical and corporate body headings are free-floating subdivisions under the topical subdivision “$x History.”
    • Modern history:  Century subdivisions may be used under “$x History” from “$y 16th century” through “$y 21st century,” as applicable.

      E.g.    650  0  $a Iroquois Indians $x History $y 17th century.

      650  0  $a Coal mines and mining $z Pennsylvania $x History $y 19th century.

      610 20 $a Harvard University $x History $y 20th century.

    • Ancient and mediaeval history: Under “$x History,” the broader chronological subdivision “$y To 1500" may now be used under topical headings only to designate a subject limited to ancient and/or mediaeval history.

      E.g.    Title:  Medieval fish, fisheries and fishponds in England.

      650  0  $a Fish ponds $z England $x History $y To 1500.

    Exceptions:

    • Headings for the arts (e.g., fine arts, literature, and music) and for languages often have their own, specifically designated period subdivisions.  The free-floating “$x History $y ...” subdivisions should not be used under such headings.

      E.g.    650  0  $a Painting, Japanese $y Heian period, 794-1185.

      650  0  $a Brazilian literature $y 20th century $x History and criticism.

      650  0  $a German language $y Middle High German, 1050-1500.

    • Headings for certain topics in religious history or certain denominations also have their own designated subdivisions.

      E.g.    650  0  $a Theology, Doctrinal $x History $y Middle Ages, 600-1500.

      610 20  $a Catholic Church $x History $y Modern period, 1500-

  • Under geographic headings:
    • Specific chronological subdivisions may be authorized under topical subdivisions used under names of places, particularly countries and larger regions.  These subdivisions should be verified in the LC subject authority file.

      E.g.    651  0  $a Paraguay $x History $y 1938-1989.

      651  0  $a Italy $x History $y Carolingian rule, 774-887.

      651  0  $a Japan $x Economic conditions $y To 1868.

      651  0  $a Siena (Italy) $x History $y Medici rule, 1557-1737.

    • There are several categories of free-floating topical subdivisions under names of places (of any size) that may potentially be subdivided chronologically.  Several provide for the free-floating chronological century subdivisions “$y 16th century” through “$y 21st century.”   These topical subdivisions are listed below and in the Subject Cataloging Manual, section H1140, “Names of Places”:

      $x Church history

      $x Civilization

      $x Economic conditions

      $x History

      $x History, Military

      $x History, Naval

      $x Intellectual life

      $x Politics and government

      $x Religion

      $x Social conditions

      $x Social life and customs

      E.g.    651  0  $a India $x Intellectual life $y 18th century.

      651  0  $a Gulf Coast (Ala.) $x Social life and customs $y 20th century.

      651  0  $a Guatemala $x Church history $y 19th century.

      651  0  $a Siena (Italy) $x Politics and government $y 17th century.

      651  0  $a Sahel $x Economic conditions $y 21st century.

      These free-floating chronological subdivisions should be used cautiously, particularly under “$x History,” and only if no conflict exists with an established chronological subdivision.  Check the LC subject authority file first for any established subdivision.

• Order:  The combination of a $x topical subdivision and a $y chronological subdivision is either placed at the end of a subject heading string or precedes a $v form subdivision.

  E.g.    650  0  $a College teachers $z Germany $x Political activity $x History $y 19th century.

  650 0 $a Beach erosion $z Florida $z Pensacola Beach $x History $y 20th century $v Bibliography.

• Please note that the subdivision “$v Early works to 1800" is considered to be a form subdivision, not a chronological one.

Geographic subdivisions ($z)

• Application:  Geographic subdivisions may be used under topical subject headings and following topical subdivisions when they are specifically authorised, as indicated by:
  • Subject authority record in OCLC:  The fixed field element “Geo subd” code “i”

  • Subject authority record in Voyager:  The fixed field element “Subdivision” code “i”

  • Subject Cataloging Manual:  Subject Headings:  The phrase “(May Subd Geog)” following a subdivision.

  • The “red books” (printed LCSH list):  The phrase “(May Subd Geog)” following a subject heading.

  E.g.    Heading in subject authority record in OCLC:  150  Beach erosion

  Geo subd code:  i

  Therefore:

  650  0  $a Beach erosion $z Florida $z Pensacola Beach

  is valid.

  E.g.    Heading in subject authority record in Voyager:  150  Science, Ancient

  Subdivision code:  [blank]

  Therefore:

  650  0  $a Science, Ancient $z Greece $z Athens

  would not be valid.  “Science, Ancient” should not be subdivided geographically.

  E.g.    Freefloating subdivision in the Subject Cataloging Manual:  $x Government policy (May Subd Geog)

  Therefore:

  650  0  $a Wetland conservation $x Government policy $z Poland

  is valid.

• Order:  Geographical subdivisions precede many topical subdivisions in the same subject heading string.  However, a fair number of topical subdivisions precede geographic subdivisions.  (Cf. "Topical subdivisions:  Order” above.)

  For the structure of indirect geographic subdivision, when more than one geographic level is involved, consult “Geographic Headings and Subdivisions:  a Summary of Contrasting Structures” or the Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings, sections H830-H836.

Some common subdivisions

The subdivisions listed here correspond to those listed in the “Full-Level OCLC-Member Editing Guidelines (Books Format)” as ones that should be added to existing headings when applicable.

With each one, a brief scope note is included, along with:

• Any “H” number of the Subject Cataloging Manual section that gives more information about the use of the subdivision

• The corresponding “sh” subject authority record number, either for the subdivision itself or for the closest equivalent subject heading, where information about the subdivision is included.

For additional free-floating subdivisions, see the Subject Cataloging Manual, sections H1095-H1200.

$v Bibliography        (H 1205; H 1322; H 1325; H 1670)         sh 99001362 or sh 85013838

Use under subjects of all types.  Used for lists of works about a subject; when used under a person’s name, it may apply to lists of works by or about the person.

E.g.    650  0  $a Sociology $v Bibliography.

651  0  $a Guatemala $x History $y 1985- $v Bibliography.

600 10  $a Camus, Albert, $d 1913-1960 $v Bibliography.

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$v Biography        (H 1330; H 1720; H 1845)         sh 99001237 or sh 85014152

Use under corporate and geographic name headings and under classes of persons, ethnic groups, individual and groups of animals, historic events, and uniform titles of sacred works.  The most common uses are following headings for classes of persons and places.

Used for individual or collective biography.

E.g.    650  0  $a Presidents $z France $v Biography.

610 20  $a Bear Paw Development Corporation $v Biography.

650  0  $a Potters $z Zambia $z Kafue River Valley $v Biography.

650  0  $a Jews $z Poland $z Warsaw $v Biography.

630 00  $a Bhagavadg¯it¯a $v Biography.

651  0  $a Mexico $v Biography.

651  0  Edinburgh (Scotland) $v Biography.

Strictly speaking, the subdivision “Biography” should only be used when more than half (50%) of a work deals with the personal aspects of a person’s life, as opposed to discussion of her or his career or works.  However, this restriction is not applied to historical figures, and in practise this subdivision is often used (even by LC) more generally for works about an individual.

Currently, the subdivision “Biography” should not be used following name headings of individual people.  (You will see many older records for biographies of literary authors that use “Biography,” however.)

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$x Criticism and interpretation        sh 99005576

Use this subdivision only under persons active in the fine arts, literature, music, and performing arts; most commonly seen under headings for names of literary authors.

Use for works at least 80% of which consist of critical analysis or interpretation of the person's literary or artistic works or endeavors, without more than 20% dealing with biographical details.

E.g.    600 10  $a Camus, Albert, $d 1913-1960 $x Criticism and interpretation.

600 00  $a Leonardo, $c da Vinci, $d 1452-1519 $x Criticism and interpretation.

600 10  $a Olivier, Laurence, $d 1907-1989 $x Criticism and interpretation.

Note that “Criticism and interpretation” is considered to be a topical ($x) subdivision, not a form ($v) subdivision.

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$x Description and travel        (H1530)         sh 99001278

Use under geographic headings for general descriptive works and travel accounts about that place.  Chronological subdivisions are no longer valid under “Description and travel,” although for early travel accounts the form subdivision “$v Early works to 1800" may apply.

E.g.    651  0  $a Belize $x Description and travel.

651  0  $a Mediterranean Region $x Description and travel $v Early works to 1800.

“Description and travel” should not be used under headings for extinct cities, parks, or Indian reservations.

E.g.    651  0  $a Yosemite National Park (Calif.)

651  0  $a Pompeii (Extinct city)

If the work contains an extensive amount of practical travel-related advice, use “$v Guidebooks.”

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$v Dictionaries        (H 1540)         sh 99001671 or sh 85042997

Use under subjects of all types.  Under language headings, use "$v Dictionaries" for comprehensive alphabetical lists of words in those languages.  If the dictionary is bilingual, a final $x subdivision should be added listing the other language, and paired headings may be needed if words in each language are defined in terms of the other.

E.g.    650  0  $a German language $v Dictionaries $x English.

650  0  $a English language $v Dictionaries $x German.

“Dictionaries” can also be used under topical headings for comprehensive alphabetical listings of terms used in connection with that field or other topic.  It should be followed by “$x <language>” if the language is not English.

E.g.    650  0  $a Sociology $v Dictionaries $x French.

If the work includes articles on a topic or topics, use "$v Encyclopedias.”

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$v Directories        (H 1558)         sh 99001609 or sh 85038267

Use under corporate, geographic, and family name headings and under classes of persons, ethnic groups, Christian denominations, types of organizations, and general topical headings for alphabetical or classified lists containing names, addresses, and other identifying data.

E.g.    650  0  $a Engineers $z Monaco $v Directories.

650  0  $a Mexican Americans $z New Mexico $z Albuquerque $v Directories.

651  0  $a Ann Arbor (Mich.) $x Officials and employees $v Directories.

610 20  $a Tulane University $v Directories.

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$v Drama        (H 1780)         sh 99001612 or sh 85039316

Use under personal, corporate, family, and geographic name headings and under classes of persons, ethnic groups, and general topical headings for plays or musical dramatic works on those subjects.

E.g.    650  0  $a Agincourt, Battle of, Agincourt, France, 1415 $v Drama.

650  0  $a Mexican Americans $z New Mexico $z Albuquerque $v Drama.

600 00  $a Leonardo, $c da Vinci, $d 1452-1519 $v Drama.

651  0  $a France $x History $y Revolution, 1789-1799 $v Drama.

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$v Encyclopedias        (H 1540)         sh 99001614 or sh 85042997

Use under subjects of all types.

Use for works consisting of explanatory articles arranged alphabetically or topically.  (Note that works of this type are sometimes called “dictionaries.”)

E.g.    650  0  $a Sociology $v Encyclopedias.

600 00  $a Homer $v Encyclopedias.

651  0  $a France $x History $y Revolution, 1789-1799 $v Encyclopedias.

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$v Fiction        (H 1720; H 1790)         sh 99001562 or sh 85048050

Use under personal, corporate, family, and geographic name headings and under classes of persons, ethnic groups, and general topical headings for collections of stories or novels on those topics.

E.g.    650  0  $a Truffles $z Italy $v Fiction.

610 20  $a Microsoft Corporation $v Fiction.

651  0  $a Buenos Aires (Argentina) $v Fiction.

650  0  $a Musicians $z Louisiana $z New Orleans $v Fiction.

Also use under names of individual persons and historic events for individual works of biographical or historical fiction, and under animals for individual stories about animals.

E.g.    600 00  $a Eleanor, $c of Aquitaine, Queen, consort of Henry II, King of England, $d 1122?-1204 $v Fiction.

651  0  $a France $x History $y Revolution, 1789-1799 $v Fiction.

650  0  $a Dolphins $z Mexico, Gulf of $v Fiction.

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$v Guidebooks        (H 1645)         sh 99001297 or sh 85057716

Use under corporate and geographic name headings and topical headings.

The subdivision “Guidebooks” should be used for handbooks with practical travel-related advice, “how to get there and what to see and do” information.  For narrative, more descriptive travel accounts, use “Description and travel.”

E.g.    651  0  $a Switzerland $v Guidebooks.

651  0  $a London (England) $v Guidebooks.

651  0  $a Yosemite National Park (Calif.) $v Guidebooks.

650  0  $a Historic buildings $z Italy $z Florence $v Guidebooks.

Note that:

• “Guidebooks” is currently used immediately under the heading for a place, without an intervening “Description and travel” (although you may see older records with heading strings that include both subdivisions).

• “Guidebooks” is a one-word term, without a hyphen (although you may see it in older records spelled with a hyphen or as two words).

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$x History        (H 1647; H 1845)         sh 99005024 or sh 85061212

Use under corporate and geographic name headings, under uniform titles of sacred works, and under classes of persons, ethnic groups, and topical headings.

The subdivision “History” should be used for descriptions and explanations of past events connected with a non-literary or non-artistic subject.  The description may continue up to the present time, provided that some chronological depth is present.

E.g.    650  0  $a Photography $z England $z Bath $x History.

650  0  $a Women $z Indonesia $x History.

610 20  $a Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México $x History.

Under geographic headings, “History” is used for fairly general accounts of the past; for works dealing with a particular aspect of the past, a different, more specific subdivision may be more appropriate, such as “Economic conditions,” “Politics and government,” or “Social conditions.”

E.g.    Title:  London through the ages.

    651  0  $a London (England) $x History.

Title:  The economic development of London since 1600.

    651  0  $a London (England) $x Economic conditions.

Note that "History" is considered to be a topical ($x) subdivision, not a form ($v) subdivision.

There are certain headings and subdivisions that are not followed by “History,” because they are considered to be inherently historical (or inherently potentially historical).  Examples include:

E.g.    650  0  $a Renaissance.

650  0  $a Glass blowing and working $z Rome.      ["Rome" by itself represents the ancient republic and empire]

and the subdivisions “Politics and government” and “Social conditions”:

E.g.    651  0  $a Cuba $x Social conditions.

651  0  $a Guatemala $x Politics and government $y 1985-

For a complete list, consult "Subdivisions Not Further Subdivided by $x History,” taken from the Subject Cataloging Manual, H1647, section 9.

For historical treatment of literatures, music, and film (with certain film headings), use the literary subdivision “$x History and criticism.”

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$x History $y <16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, or 21st> century        (H1647)

Use under corporate body headings and under classes of persons, ethnic groups, military services, Christian denominations, and topical headings; use for historical works limited to a given period that falls largely within a century.

E.g.    650  0  $a Shipping $z Turkey $z Istanbul $x History $y 17th century.

650  0  $a Political science $x History $y 20th century.

610 20 $a University of Oxford $x History $y 19th century.

Use cautiously under geographic headings, provided that no conflicting established chronological subdivision exists.  Check the LC subject authority file first for any established subdivision.

E.g.    651  0  $a Baton Rouge (La.) $x History $y 20th century.

651  0  $a Alps, Bavarian (Germany) $x History $y 18th century.

Please note that the heading for a topic with a history only extending for the period covered by the work or for a specific century does not need chronological subdivision.

E.g.    650  0  $a Motion pictures $x History.

    [Book covers 20th-century beginnings to date; ”Motion pictures $x History $y 20th century” and ”Motion pictures $x History $y 21st century” would not be necessary.]

650  0  $a Blogs $z Portugal $z Sintra Mountains Region $x History.

    ["$y 21st century" would not be a useful addition to a heading string about an essentially 21st-century phenomenon.]

$x History $y To 1500        (H1647)        sh2002006121

Use under topical headings for works that cover the ancient and/or mediaeval periods.

E.g.    650  0  $a Bee culture $z Italy $z Umbria $x History $y To 1500.