Thesauri & Controlled Vocabularies
Subject cataloging depends on lists of controlled subject access vocabulary and thesauri. Library of Congress catalog records generally feature subject access points from one or more of the following thesauri and headings lists:
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Washington, DC: Library of Congress
Now in its 32nd edition, Library of Congress Subject Headings is the only subject headings list accepted as the worldwide standard. The print volumes and online version (through Classification Web) are available for purchase through the Cataloging Distribution Service (CDS).
Subject headings created each week since the most recent full edition are available on the Library's Cataloging and Acquisitions Web site. A selection of new subject headings of current interest, as well as a list of revised subject headings, is published each quarter in Cataloging Service Bulletin, which is available as a free PDF download from the Cataloging Distribution Service.
NEW SERVICE (id.loc.gov) - Library of Congress Subject Headings is also the first inclusion for download through the Library's new Authorities and Vocabularies Web service (id.loc.gov).
Global Legal Information Network (GLIN) Subject Term Index
Washington, DC: Law Library of Congress
The Subject Term Index is a thesaurus of subject terms authorized for use in indexing the records contained in GLIN -- the international legal database with official full texts of published documents in the original languages. Every legal resource contains at least one subject term. You can search or browse the Subject Term Index to identify subject terms and find related legal resources.
Legislative Indexing Vocabulary (LIV)
Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service
The Legislative Indexing Vocabulary (LIV) is a set of approximately 5,000 subject indexing terms for use with the THOMAS Bill Summary & Status Databases prior to the 111th Congress.
Moving Image Genre-Form Guide
Compiled by
Brian Taves, Judi Hoffman, Karen Lund.
Washington, DC: Motion
Picture, Broadcasting & Recorded Sound Division (Library of Congress)
The Moving Image Genre-Form Guide is a thesaurus of subject terms applicable to the moving image holdings of archives and libraries.
RBMS Controlled Vocabularies: Controlled Vocabularies for Use in Rare Book and Special Collections Cataloging
Bibliographic Standards Committee of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (Association of College and Research Libraries/American Library Association)
These searchable thesauri provide standardized vocabulary for retrieving special collections materials by form, genre, or by various physical characteristics that are typically of interest to researchers and special collections librarians, and for relating materials to individuals or corporate bodies. Includes the following vocabularies: Binding Terms; Genre Terms; Paper Terms; Printing & Publishing Evidence; Provenance Evidence; and, Type Evidence.
Thesaurus for Graphic Materials (TGM): Subject and Genre Terms
Washington, DC: Prints and Photographs Division (Library of Congress)
The Thesaurus for Graphic Materials (TGM) is a tool for indexing visual materials by subject and genre/format. The thesaurus includes more than 7,000 subject terms to index topics shown or reflected in pictures, and 650 genre/format terms to index types of photographs, prints, design drawings, ephemera and other categories. New terms are added regularly. TGM is searchable through the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC).
Last Updated: 06/20/2011
