Topical Subject Headings

Subject headings generally consist of four different types. Topical headings are those that use a word or phrase to describe the content, or topic, of the library material. Examples would be headings such as:

                    AMERICAN STUDENTS

ANTISEPTICS IN DENTISTRY

BEACH PLANTS

CABERNET (WINE)

COINS, AFGHAN

All of these examples are various ways of describing the information contained in items in the library collection. Topical headings may often also be used as a subdivision of another heading, such as BUSINESS—MATHEMATICAL MODELS, or CHAMBER MUSIC—HISTORY AND CRITICISM.

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