Step 3.12
Contents
Step 3.12: Subject Term Conversions
Over the years there has been growing interest in either supplementing existing LCSH vocabulary or replacing outdated/obsolete terminology. We offer a few different options to help meet your needs in term conversions.
LCSH/LCGFT to FAST
Some institutions find use in adding FAST headings when they are missing from a Bibliographic record so they are utilizing FAST as an additional faceted search option while others are moving towards an easier way to do subject analysis. Either way, often an automated approach is needed for addressing legacy items. Backstage has created a process that will take each LC term (LCSH or LCGFT) to add the appropriate FAST term (while retaining the original LC term). Options are available to omit the LCGFT match/addition.
original headings: 650 0 $a Capitol Riot, Washington, D.C., 2021 $v Pictorial works. 650 0 $a Riots $z Washington (D.C.) $v Pictorial works. 650 0 $a Political violence $z Washington (D.C.) $v Pictorial works.
updated headings: 650 0 $a Capitol Riot, Washington, D.C., 2021 $v Pictorial works. 650 0 $a Riots $z Washington (D.C.) $v Pictorial works. 650 0 $a Political violence $z Washington (D.C.) $v Pictorial works. 647 7 $a Capitol Riot $c (Washington, D.C. : $d 2021) $2 fast $0 (OCoLC)fst02032437 648 7 $a 2021 $2 fast 650 7 $a Political violence $2 fast $0 (OCoLC)fst01069902 650 7 $a Riots $2 fast $0 (OCoLC)fst01098069 651 7 $a Washington (D.C.) $2 fast $0 (OCoLC)fst01204505
GSAFD to LCGFT
The vocabulary for the Guidelines on Subject Access to Individual Works of Fiction, Drama, Etc. (GSAFD) predates the formation of LCGFT. As LCGFT became more widely used and accepted, the use of GSAFD waned and eventually the vocabulary was largely absorbed into LCGFT. We have the ability to convert legacy GSAFD terms into LCGFT where they exist. There are some instances where a conversion is not achievable since there is not a 1:1 correlation or there may not be a good LCGFT equivalent just yet. Reports are available to alert you to terms that we are unable to convert.
original headings: 655 7 $a Mystery comic books, strips, etc. $2 gsafd 655 7 $a Medical drama (Films). $2 gsafd
Updated headings: 655 7 $a Detective and mystery comics. $2 lcgft 655 7 $a Medical films (Motion pictures). $2 lcgft
LCSH/LCGFT and MeSH to HOMOIT
The Homosaurus vocabulary has been developed and maintained by virtue of multiple volunteers across the library world. Many institutions are now incorporating this vocabulary into new cataloging in order to give better description to their items where LCSAF and MeSH are unable to describe something in the current, preferred terminology. However, the issue of legacy data is still a problem, as there is not enough staff time to spend to manually assign subject terms. Backstage can assist with an automated crosswalk that was developed internally. The crosswalk will look for a list of terms that could appear in LCSH and will add the Homosaurus equivalent with a $2 homoit.
original headings: 650 0 $a Black gay men. 650 0 $a Cruising (Sexual behavior).
updated headings: 650 0 $a Black gay men. 650 0 $a Cruising (Sexual behavior). 650 7 $a Black gay men $2 homoit 650 7 $a Black LGBTQ+ people $2 homoit 650 7 $a Cruising (LGBTQ+ culture) $2 homoit 650 7 $a Sexual practices $2 homoit 650 7 $a Sex (Act) $2 homoit
All options available:
- Don't add Homosaurus if the same term is used in LCSH, but still add the Broader terms
- Don't add the Juvenile related $v
- Omit indicators _2 and _4 from the source fields from which to convert
- Omit ALL broader terms and add only the direct conversion as outlined in the crosswalk
Additionally, because LC often uses "Gays" and "Gay people" as an umbrella term for both Gay men and Lesbians, our crosswalk will add BOTH to your record because we are unable to determine which it should actually be. Report number R902 is available for this instance, if desired.
Indigenous people
In recent years there has been a push to alter terminology to essentially "Decolonize" the catalog. The goal is to remove terms assigned by non-Indigenous peoples to represent them. This is a larger effort that many different institutions are working on but as a starting point, Backstage will change "Indians of ..." subject headings to "Indigenous peoples $z ..." and remove the use of "Indians" in individual tribal/community names. Special handling of the Indigenous populations of Alaska and Canada are also included. The use of Backstage's locally created authority file will facilitate these changes and you will receive a copy of the associated authority records.
Some institutions are also opting to add additional terms such as "Native Americans" to broaden search capability for their patrons, so let us know if there are additional terms you'd like to add!
original headings: 650 0 $a Art $x Indian influences. 650 0 $a Asto Indians. 650 0 $a Chilcotin Indians. 650 0 $a Indians of North America $x Boats $z Alaska. 650 0 $a Indians of North America $z Canada. 650 0 $a Indians of South America $x Missions.
Updated headings: 650 7 $a Art $x Indigenous influences. $2 indig 650 7 $a Asto (South American people). $2 indig 650 7 $a Tsilhqot'in. $2 indig 650 7 $a Alaska Natives $x Boats. $2 indig 650 7 $a First Nations. $2 indig 650 7 $a Indigenous peoples $z South America $x Missions. $2 indig
You have the option of using the locally prescribed $2 above or instead using 2nd indicator 4, with no $2.
A full list of the terms being addressed can be found here
Undocumented immigrants
Prior to LC's final decision to change "Illegal aliens" to "Noncitizens" plus "Illegal immigration" many institutions were opting to change "Illegal aliens" to "Undocumented immigrants". This local authority file will allow you to make this alternate change while still changing "Aliens" to "Noncitizens" as currently prescribed by LCSH.
Enslaved Persons
We are aware that there are efforts by the Library of Congress to begin addressing Enslaved Persons. Many of our clients, however, are still interested in making this change now. As such, as of November 2022 a new authority file for this term set is now available to begin making the change within your catalog. You can view the term list here
Other potential changes
We're trying to keep our pulse on other sets of terms that institutions are looking at changing. We're slowly compiling that list that come in as 1) custom requests from our clients, or 2) appear on the cataloginglab.org website. You can find suggested changes here. PLEASE NOTE that we would consider these "custom" changes to your catalog so you can alter what the "Preferred term" is for these. Please download the spreadsheet, make your changes, and supply us with the updated spreadsheet.
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