The ALA Core SAC Subcommittee on Faceted Vocabularies (SSFV) is pleased to announce that Retrospective Implementation of Library of Congress Faceted Vocabularies (Version 1.2) has been published in the ALA Institutional Repository (ALA IR) at: https://alair.ala.org/items/00807711-a2b1-4e65-8ae7-ea9cce7cda42.
This document provides a set of best practices for libraries and developers seeking to apply Library of Congress (LC) faceted vocabularies retrospectively through automated or semi-automated processes. Of particular interest, as LC adjusts their approach to recording genre and form, are the Genre/Form and Demographic/Geographic modules. These modules map components of LCSH headings (such as heading qualifiers and form subdivisions) to equivalent LC Genre/Form Terms (LCGFT) and LC Demographic Group Terms (LCDGT) and note where additional terms may be needed.
This new edition introduces a chronological data module and includes descriptions of forthcoming modules, updates on the status of committee work, and other editorial revisions intended to make the document more accessible to new users. As an evolving resource, the document will be updated on an ongoing basis.
The new chronological data module introduces a set of scripts that transform chronological data which describes works and expressions in MARC 045 (Time Period of Content) fields into data that can be mapped to MARC 046 (Special Coded Dates) fields, with special emphasis on transforming time period of creation to date of work/expression. These scripts can help to ensure consistent and interoperable data in MARC records.
Thanks to all the current and former SSFV members for their contributions! Special thanks to Sarah Hovde, Aiping Chen-Gaffey and Casey Mullin for their work on the chronological data module!
BACKGROUND:
The Retrospective Implementation of Faceted Vocabularies resource describes a set of best practices for implementers wishing to apply LC faceted vocabularies--using purpose-built fields in the MARC 21 bibliographic format--retrospectively to library catalogs, utilizing automated and semi-automated processes. It is also intended to serve as an ever-growing hub of information for all matters related to retrospective implementation of LC faceted vocabularies, including efforts undertaken by specialist communities of practice, library consortia/cooperatives, library systems vendors, etc. Lastly, it articulates a "roadmap" for ongoing work by SSFV and allied communities of practice.
This integrating resource is modular in nature and subject to dynamic, ongoing updates. Early versions of these best practices will be incomplete. The new chronological data module joins the other modules are available to implementers now:
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Genre/Form: mapping MARC fixed field codes to 655 and 385 fields
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Genre/Form: mapping LCSH form subdivisions (and select topical subdivisions) to 655, 385, 386 fields
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Genre/Form: mapping LCSH music form headings to 655 fields (not SSFV's own work, but a brief description of and links to the Music Library Association's work)
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Medium of Performance: mapping LCSH music form headings to 382 fields (not SSFV's own work, but a brief description of and links to MLA's work)
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Demographic/Geographic: mapping LCSH heading qualifiers to 386 and 370 fields
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Chronological: mapping 045 fields to 046 fields
Three appendices contain links to resources for current implementation of faceted vocabularies, a bibliography of literature on display and indexing of faceted data, and a list of MARC fields incorporated in mapping modules.
SSFV anticipates updating and re-releasing the summary document periodically. However, the modules themselves are even more dynamic and subject to frequent updates, particularly as the LC vocabularies continue to grow and evolve. Implementers are advised to take into account the "last updated" date on each module when consulting that module; this date may be later than the "last updated" date on the summary document. Stay tuned for further updates to this resource!
Thank you for your interest! Let's work together towards linked data and enhanced discovery!
Sai Deng, Suzhen Chen, Aiping Chen-Gaffey, Sarah Hovde, Miloche R. Kottman, Yoko Kudo, Dorie Kurtz, Kelley McGrath, Laura Murff, Keiko Suzuki & Jacqueline J. Zook
The ALA Core SAC Subcommittee on Faceted Vocabularies (SSFV)
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