Using Subdivisions in Headings

The various types of subject headings addressed earlier in the course can also be found in subdivisions. Subdivisions can be used to add specificity or depth to a particular subject heading term. Sometimes examples of subdivisions are listed under the term for a subject heading in LCSH. Subject headings listed as pattern heading examples contain the list of accepted subdivisions for similar kinds of subjects. Other headings may list subdivisions that are frequently used with that term. Subdivisions that can be used under various types of subject headings are also listed in Free-floating Subdivisions: An Alphabetical Index, a publication from the Library of Congress.

Free-floating subdivisions are form or topical terms that may be used as subdivisions under designated subject heading terms, without needing to be listed in the LCSH printed volumes. These terms are to be used at the discretion of the cataloger, whenever their use is deemed appropriate for the needs of an individual library. While the cataloger is expected to use these terms fairly freely, without worrying about whether other libraries have used the same subdivisions, there are guidelines for how to use these free-floating terms. Specific guidelines for applying free-floating subdivisions can be found in Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings, also published by the Library of Congress.

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