Biomaterial Database

Subject cataloging practices in North American medical school libraries. 1976

R B Fredericksen, and H N Michael

A survey of North American medical school libraries was made to determine current trends in subject cataloging practices. First, responses from 114 of these libraries are recorded and analyzed in the following areas: subject heading authority lists employed; use of the divided versus the dictionary catalog; and the form in which local subject authority files are kept. Then, focusing on 78 libraries that use MeSH in combination with a divided catalog, a further analysis of responses is made concerning issues relating to subject cataloging practices: updating the subject catalog to conform to annual MeSH changes; use of guide cards in the catalog; use of MeSH subheadings; filing conventions; and related issues. An attempt is made to analyze the extent to which these libraries vary from NLM practices. Suggestions are offered for formulating subject cataloging practices for an individual library. Finally, while it is concluded that MeSH and the Current Catalog are useful tools, a more detailed explication of the use of MeSH and NLM cataloging practices would be beneficial.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007993	Libraries, Medical	Collection of information resources relevant to MEDICINE.	Libraries, Health Science,Libraries, Biomedical,Library, Medical,Medical Libraries,Medical Library,Biomedical Libraries,Biomedical Library,Health Science Libraries,Health Science Library,Library, Biomedical
D009317	National Library of Medicine (U.S.)	An agency of the NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH concerned with overall planning, promoting, and administering programs pertaining to advancement of medical and related sciences. Major activities of this institute include the collection, dissemination, and exchange of information important to the progress of medicine and health, research in medical informatics and support for medical library development.	United States National Library of Medicine,National Library of Medicine,National Medical Library
D009656	North America	The northern continent of the Western Hemisphere, extending northward from the Colombia-Panama border and including CENTRAL AMERICA, MEXICO, Caribbean area, the UNITED STATES, CANADA and GREENLAND. The term often refers more narrowly to MEXICO, continental UNITED STATES, AND CANADA.	Northern America
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D002376	Cataloging	Activities performed in the preparation of bibliographic records for CATALOG. It is carried out according to a set of rules and contains information enabling the user to know what is available and where items can be found.
D002381	Catalogs, Library	Lists of material available in a library arranged in order with bibliographical METADATA for the purpose of identification and retrieval.	Catalog, Library,Library Catalog,Library Catalogs
D005371	Filing	Collections of related records treated as a unit; ordering of such files.	Filings
D012577	Schools, Medical	Educational institutions for individuals specializing in the field of medicine.	Medical Schools,Medical School,School, Medical
D013358	Subject Headings	Terms or expressions which provide the major means of access by subject to the bibliographic unit.	Descriptors,Descriptor,Heading, Subject,Headings, Subject,Subject Heading
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.