Edward T. O'NeillPrepared with the assistance of the FAST TeamAustralian Committee on Cataloguing Seminar Sydney, Australia, January 31, 2005

FAST

A Facetted LCSH-Based Subject Vocabulary

FAST Team

OCLCEric Childress, Becky

Dean, Anya Dyer, Kerre Kammerer, Ed O’Neill,

Diane Vizine-Goetz

Library of Congress

Lynn El-Hoshy

ALA/SAC& Univ. of Kentucky

Lois Mai Chan

Need for New Approach to Subject Vocabulary for Electronic Resources

Phenomenal growth of electronic resources,

Emergence of numerous metadata schemes,

Need for a new approach to subject access,

OCLC’s search for a subject access system for Dublin Core metadata records.

Schema Requirements

Simple in structure and syntax,

Usable by non-catalogers and in non-library environments,

Optimal access points,

Semantic interoperability to enable users to search across discipline boundaries,

Compatible with MARC, Dublin Core, and other popular metadata schemas,

Easy to maintain and amenable to automatic authority control and computer manipulation.

Options

The ALA Subcommittee on Metadata and Subject Analysis(1997-2001) identified three basic approaches to selecting an indexing/subject heading schema for Internet resources:

Develop a new schema,

Use an existing schema(s),

Adapt or modify an existing schema.

Advantages of LCSH

Rich vocabulary covering all subject areas

Synonym and homograph control Extensive hierarchical and associative

references among terms De facto standard controlled vocabulary,

extensively used by libraries, contained in millions of bibliographic records.

Long and well-documented history, Strong institutional support of the Library

of Congress.

LCSH in Card Catalogues

LCSH was originally created for card catalogs—a 3x5 card environment,

Cards restricted the

number of subject

headings per item,

Cards required pre-

coordinated vocabulary,

LCSH was originally created for card catalogs—a 3x5 card environment,

Cards restricted the

number of subject

headings per item,

Cards required pre-

coordinated vocabulary,

Z693.5 Chan, Lois Mai. U6C48 Cataloging and classification: an introduction / Lois Mai Chan. -- 2nd ed. New York : McCraw-Hill, c1994. xxii, 519 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 493-502) and index. ISBN 0-07-010506-5

1. Cataloging--United States. 2. Class- ification--Books. I. Title.

Z693.5 Chan, Lois Mai. U6C48 Cataloging and classification: an introduction / Lois Mai Chan. -- 2nd ed. New York : McCraw-Hill, c1994. xxii, 519 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 493-502) and index. ISBN 0-07-010506-5

1. Cataloging--United States. 2. Class- ification--Books. I. Title.

Classification--Books.

Z693.5 Chan, Lois Mai. U6C48 Cataloging and classification: an introduction / Lois Mai Chan. -- 2nd ed. New York : McCraw-Hill, c1994. xxii, 519 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 493-502) and index. ISBN 0-07-010506-5

1. Cataloging--United States. 2. Class- ification--Books. I. Title.

Classification--Books.

Z693.5 Chan, Lois Mai. U6C48 Cataloging and classification: an introduction / Lois Mai Chan. -- 2nd ed. New York : McCraw-Hill, c1994. xxii, 519 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 493-502) and index. ISBN 0-07-010506-5

1. Cataloging--United States. 2. Class- ification--Books. I. Title.

Cataloging--United States.

Z693.5 Chan, Lois Mai. U6C48 Cataloging and classification: an introduction / Lois Mai Chan. -- 2nd ed. New York : McCraw-Hill, c1994. xxii, 519 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 493-502) and index. ISBN 0-07-010506-5

1. Cataloging--United States. 2. Class- ification--Books. I. Title.

Cataloging--United States.

Z693.5 Chan, Lois Mai. U6C48 Cataloging and classification: an introduction / Lois Mai Chan. -- 2nd ed. New York : McCraw-Hill, c1994. xxii, 519 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 493-502) and index. ISBN 0-07-010506-5

1. Cataloging--United States. 2. Class- ification--Books. I. Title.

LCSH in the Electronic Environment

Syntax based on pre-coordination requires

trained and skilled personnel,

Does not lend itself to automatic indexing or

authority control,

Many pre-coordinated headings assigned to

catalog records do not appear in the list.

Need to Fully Establish Headings

Heading Selection

Heading Construction

LCSH Topical WorldCat Coverage

167,015 (2%) Established

3,044,915 (36%)

Multiple Assignments

5,231,613(62%)

Assigned only once

Valid But Not Established LCSH

Established Main heading/free-floating subdivision(s):Burns and scalds—Patients—Family relationshipsTravel—Early works to 1800

Free-floating phrase headingsWoodwind trios (English horn, oboes (2))

Geographic subdivisionsBanks and banking—United States

MultiplesUnited States. Navy—History—War of 1812

LCSH Patterns Subdivisions

Free-floating subdivisions controlled by pattern headings are one example of how an established heading can be expanded. The scope of patterns is limited to particular types (patterns) of headings.

Burns and scalds

$x Family relationships

$x Patients

By fully establishing headings such as this in FAST, the complexity of rules under which they were created is effectively hidden.

By fully establishing headings such as this in FAST, the complexity of rules under which they were created is effectively hidden.

FAST schema

LCSH vocabulary

Simplified syntax

Designed for an online environment

A post-coordinated faceted vocabulary

Hierarchy is retained within facets

Retains the advantages of a controlled vocabulary

Eight Facets

Topical

-Sailing—Safety measures

Personal Names

Dewey, Melvil, 1851 -1931

Geographic

New South Wales

Form (Genre)

Bibliography

Chronological

1939 - 1945

Corporate Names

National Library of Australia

Conference/MeetingsUniform Titles

Authority Records

FAST will use MARC 21 formats

The MARC 21 bibliographic and authority formats were revised to accommodate FAST by authorizing the x48 (Chronological) fields

Authority records will be created for all FAST headings except chronological— chronological authority record will be created only when required for references

Topical Headings

Secret service Urbanization Hospitals—Administration—Data processingCataloging—Analytical entry

Photoconductivity—MeasurementWoodwind trios (English horn, oboes (2)) Sailing—Safety measures

Topical Authority Record

001    fst01670517 003    OCoLC

005    20021209141603.0 008    021209nneanz||babn n ana d 040    OCoLC $b eng $c OCoLC $f fast 150    Sailing $x Safety measures688    LC usage 7 (1999) 688 WC usage 25 (1999)

750  0 Sailing $0(DLC)sh 85116532

Geographic names will be established and applied in indirect order, [New South Wales—Sydney not Sydney—New South Wales]

First level geographic names will be limited to names from the Geographic Area Codes table (e.g., Ohio, Victoria, Great Lakes, etc.) Other names will be entered as subdivisions under the smallest first level name in which it is fully contained [Australia—Great Dividing Range]

Geographic Area Codes are included in all authority records for geographic names

FACET: GeographicFACET: Geographic

Geographic Headings

Great Lakes [nl]Queensland [u-at-qn]Mars [zma]Northern Territory—Darwin [u-at-no]Maryland—Worcester County [n-us-md]Slovenia—Maribor [e-xv]Victoria—Melbourne Metropolitan Area [u-at-vi]England—Chilton (Oxfordshire) [e-uk-en]India—Limbdi (Princely State) [a-ii]New South Wales—Sydney—Bondi [u-at-ne]Alaska—Rowan Bay (Bay) [n-us-ak]

Geographic Authority Record

001    2130675003    OCoLC 005 20040512160245.0008    040512nneanz||babn n ana d 040    OCoLC   $b eng   $c OCoLC   $f fast043    n-us-ak151    Alaska   $z Rowan Bay (Bay)670    GNIS, Feb. 10, 2004   $b (Rowan Bay; bay;

7 mi. N of Tebenkof Bay, on W coast of Kuiu I., Alex. Arch.; Wrangell- Petersburg Census Area, Alaska; 56º40'02" N, 134º14'34" W; another Rowan Bay, pop. place in Wrangell-

Petersburg Census Area)751  0 Rowan Bay (Alaska : Bay)

$0 (DLC)sh2004005090

Form (Genre)

Case studiesAbstractsCensus RulesDictionariesFolkloreBibliography—CatalogsPeriodicals Guidebooks

Form Authority Record

001    fst00786652 003    OCoLC

005   20040920121319.0    008    040609nneanz||babn n ana d 040    OCoLC $b eng $c OCoLC $f fast 155 Guidebooks 455    Guides 455 Identification 455 Outdoor books

688    LC usage 69,842 (2004) 688 WC usage 335,129 (2004)

785 0 Guidebooks $0 (DLC) sh 99001297

Personal and Corporate Names Headings for persons:

Woodward, BobDewey, Melvil, 1851-1931Kennedy familyEdward II, King of England, 1284-1327

Headings for corporate bodies:OCLCBayerische Motoren WerkeUnited States. Coast GuardNational Library of Australia

Chronological (Period)

FAST chronological headings consist of only a single date or a date range

Limited to a single chronological heading per bibliographic record

Authority records will only be established when needed for references or linkages

Headings consist of either a single date or a starting and ending date but will be formatted for display:

1945 1942 – 1945 Since 1987 221 B.C. - 220 A.D. From 500 to 570 million years ago [Cambrian]

Chronological Events Subdivisions

In LCSH, it is common to include topical information in chronological ($y) subdivisions:

Buffalo (N.Y.) $x History $y Civil War, 1861-1865

Grenada $x History $y American Invasion, 1983

For these subdivisions, a FAST topical heading is also created:

Civil War

American Invasion

Faceting of LCSHFaceting of LCSH

FA

ST

648 1775 - 1783650 American loyalists650 Revolution650 Secret service650 Painters651 England651 United States651 Great Britain655 Biography655 History

650 American loyalists $z England.651 United States $x History $y Revolution, 1775-1783 $v

Biography.650 Secret service $z Great Britain.650 Painters $z United States.

LCS

H

Authority Control: FAST vs. LCSH

LCSH: while many headings are established, most assigned headings are synthesized by catalogers based on rules

FAST: all headings (except chronological) are established and only established headings can be assigned

Database: fast.oclc.org

Available as an OCLC SiteSearch database

The authority file is currently an beta version

The database may be unavailable for extended periods

The current version of FAST is being applied and evaluated in a few applications

The American Library Association established a FAST subcommittee to provide guidance and evaluation

Current FAST Datebase

Personal name headings 510,095Corporate name headings 276,322Topical headings 404,849Geographic name headings 142,777Form headings 638Reference records 8,758* Total FAST authorities 1,343,439

*not publicly available on web site

Future Development Plans

Update and resynchronize all FAST headings with LCSH

Develop the conference/meetings facetDevelop the uniform titles facetExpand the geographic names based on

usage data

Add information from the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

Revise and expand the form (genre) facet

Summary

LCSH Vocabulary

Faceted

Hierarchical

Fully established

Compatible with LCSH

LCSH Vocabulary

Faceted

Hierarchical

Fully established

Compatible with LCSH

Questions?

http://fast.oclc.org

oneill@oclc.org