Profile Guide Step 3.13
National Authority Files MARS 2.0 Authority Control processing can match any bibliographic headings against headings in any authority file. This includes, for example, matching 650 headings coded as local (second indicator 4) against any of the following authority files:
- LC Name and Subject Authority Files
- LC Children’s Authority File
- NLM MeSH Authority File
- NLC Canadiana and Canadian Subject Headings Authority Files
Step 3.13 Question
Local Bib Tag Matching
MARS 2.0 Authority Control processing matches specified local subject tags (6XX) against designated national subject authority headings. Many libraries create local subject tags in the 6XX field with a second indicator of 4. Other libraries create local tags in the 69X field.
The MARS 2.0 process can match these subject headings with national authority files. The software will attempt to match the designated subject heading against a representative national heading. If it does not find a match it will then attempt to find matches in other tags represented in the subject authority file. You must first designate the tag that you want the local heading to match against. If no match is found, the process will look to match on other tags.
Example 1
The following example shows Step 3.13 completed for a library that wishes to change local subject headings coded with second indicator 4 to second indicator 0 when a match is found:
This local heading (second indicator 4):
650 4 $aAmerican Civil War, 1861-1865.
Would convert to the following form based on a cross-reference (4XX field) in LC authority record sh 85140205:
651 0 $aUnited States$xHistory$yCivil War, 1861-1865.
Example 2
The following example shows Step 3.13 completed for a library that wishes to change local headings in 690 fields to the established LC form whenever possible. You must choose a specific tag to match against in this section:
Due to the request for the previous example, the local heading:
691 4 $aAmerican Civil War, 1861-1865.
Would be flipped to the following form based on LC authority record sh 85140205:
651 0 $aUnited States$xHistory$xCivil War, 1861-1865.
The MARS 2.0 options available to deal with local tags and indicators are very flexible. Discuss with your MARS 2.0 Authority Control team any specific requirements that have not been included in the examples above.
