Locate subject headings for your topic
Subject headings are terms or phrases used in the Online Library Catalog and most databases to identify and pull together under a common umbrella materials on a given topic, regardless of words in a title. The Library of Congress (LC) Subject Headings (LCSH) are used to identify subjects for items in the UIUC Online Library Catalog. Print copies of the LC Subject Headings ("the big red books") is available across from the Reference Desk in the Undergraduate Library.
The UIUC Online Library Catalog also uses the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) for medical topics. They can be used as described below for LCSH.
How to Use LC Subject Headings (LCSH)
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Strategy 1 - Use the LCSH print index to find subject headings for your topic:
- The Library of Congress Subject Headings can be found in the "big red books" located near the reference area. (If you need assistance using these, please ask).
- Subject terms are listed in alphabetical order.
- Valid subject headings will be listed in bold type.
- Non-valid subject headings will include a USE reference directing you to the correct subject term.
- The -- designation in a subject heading list designate further subdivisions that will make a subject heading more specific.
Below is a sample LCSH entry:
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Abbreviations BT - Broader Topic - Use to expand your search using a broader topic. NT - Narrower Topics - Use to focus your search using a narrower topic. RT - Related Topic - Alternitive terminology for your topic. UF - This is the appropriate subject heading is use for these words. DO NOT search by words listed as UF. USE - Identifies the correct heading to use for your topic.
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Strategy 2 - Use the UIUC Online Library Catalog to find subject headings for your topic :
- Go to the UIUC Online Library Catalog and select Quick Search.
- Select Browse Subject from the Search By box.
- Enter your topic into the Search For box and click search. An alphabetical list of subject headings nearest your search term will be returned.
- Click on any subject heading to bring up items that have been assigned that subject heading.
- There may be a See Also box to the left of the subject heading. Clicking on this box will direct you to a similar subject heading or will provide a list of broader terms, narrower terms, and see also references. These provide additional opportunities to focus your search.
- In some cases, results of a search will not include the subject term that you searched. This does not mean that the Library does not have materials on this topic. LC Subject Headings are not always intuitive. For example, the LC Subject Heading for the Vietnam War or Conflict is Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975. If you have difficulty finding a subject heading for your topic, please contact a librarian for further assistance.
Strategy 3 - Using LCSH after you have found an item:
- After finding an item in the Online Library Catalog, click on the item's title.
- This will bring up the Catalog Record for the item. Midway through the record you will see the heading Subject (LCSH, these are the Library of Congress Subject Headings for this item.
- Clicking on a subject heading link will provide an alphabetical list
of subject headings.
- Clicking on a subject heading in this list will provide a list of items that have been assigned that subject heading.
- There may be a See Also box to the left of the subject heading. Clicking on this box will direct you to other subject headings or provide a list of broader terms, narrower terms, and see also references. These provide additional opportunities to focus your search.
If you need further assistance, please contact a librarian.
Updated: 1/08/2007
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