Errors and Obsolete Elements in Assigned Library of Congress Subject Headings: Implications for Subject Cataloging and Subject Authority Control

摘要

An analysis of a sample of 9,142 headings assigned by the Library of Congress (LC) to bibliographic records, disclosed two types of invalid heading: those, that went erroneous and those that mere obsolete. Each type revealed recurting patterns. Errorsand obsolete elements occurring in assigned headings involve MAchine Readable Cataloging (MARC) coding, terminology in main headings and subdivisions, application of suhdivisions, and in mecnanical elements such as punctuation and capitalization. Different headings (e.g., personal name, corporate name, topical, etc.) display different patterns as wall an predominance of errors and obsoleteness. Although the overall error rate is low, an awareness and understanding of patterns of errors and obsolescence in subject heading strings should contribute to improvement in subject lieadlng assignment and subject authority control.