HIT: Sears vs LC Children's Subject Headings

[Susan Brown <smbrown@MINDSPRING.COM>]

Dear LM NETters:
I'm sharing many of the subject heading discussions I received. I've
decided to buy the new Dewey and keep my Sears headings for now. Am
also purchasing the Children's Headings book from Libraries Unlimited
that has both LC and Sears headings. I can't think of another place I
could have gathered such wise, practical advice. Wow! Thanks to
all:Susan
-----
For the most part they are pretty similar. Every once in a while LC
does something really child-unfriendly. The new Sears has also
gotten away from inverted headings, is using African American as a
term, etc. I prefer it. Actually, I have both, and when LC uses
something I don't like, I change it. (Prime example: Emigration and
immigration - I hate that and we use Immigration and emigration and
have for years!)
Regards, Linda Greengrass
Bank Street College Library
610 West 112th Street
New York, NY 10025
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I have mixed headings (I purposely had that done when we did recon)
and it doesn't seem to cause any problems. This is at the high school
level,but I would assume you could use it at the elementary as well,
since the subject authority list is almost never consulted by the
kids. I have my kids search on "Keywords" all the time, since that
covers more data.
Joyce Conklin            jconkli@ed.co.sanmateo.ca.us
San Mateo Union High School District (ret.)
San Mateo, CA
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From:  MEngelbrec@aol.com
   I just bought a new Sears book this year for about $50.00.  (I
think it was published by Wilson, but I'm at home, so am not
positive.)  It has Dewey numbers with it as well.  I have an abridged
version of Dewey, but it is outdated.  I would really like to get the
whole set.  When you're looking for exact numbers for things, it's
frustrating not to have it.  If you don't have the money, you can go
to the public library and use theirs to write down specific numbers
that you use a lot.  (I did that for animals a couple years ago, so
that we could have more detailed numbers).  Michele
-----
  I remember a story from one of my library classes  - I don't know
how accurate it is.  It convinced me to go with Sears.  LC has a
heading,"mensuration"  which refers to measurement.  Most of my
students wouldn't be able to pronounce it, let alone know what it
meant.
Christine House <wexlr1@minerva.cis.yale.edu>
-----
Since automated systems operate a little differently than card
catalogs,and since Marc record let you designate what kind of subject
headings you are using in the 650- tags, don't bother with trying to
clean up. In the second indicator, 0 = Library of Congress, 1 =
Children's subj. headings (LC) and 7 or 8 is used for Sears. Check
your Marc cataloging manual or guide for more details.I get all kind
of headings, depending on the vendor, then just delete or add what I
want.  I think 8 is for local headings. Since the computer can sort
these out, I think the important thing is what you want for your
kids to be able to find things.  Good luck.
-----
Pat Wamsley (patw1@muskox.alaska.edu)
I think some respondents confuse LC subject headings with LC
classification.You will find some LC subject headings are identical to
Sears, and LC does distinguish between juvenile headings which are the
ones in brackets that you find in Cataloging-in-publication
information on the verso of title pages. These are sometimes closer to
Sears.Many marc records contain both the adult and the juvenile
headings which means you may see identical or almost identical
headings, but one will have the "juvenile fiction" subdivision (this
will not be included on the juvenile heading).  Many vendors do use
Sears headings, and some database services offer either Sears or LC
(for instance Bibliofile), so you do have a choice.  Recommendations
now often suggest keeping both headings in your Marc records so that
users have many points of access, however, so I don't think that it is
considered so important that you make a switch if it is easier to stay
with Sears.  I guess the point I am trying to get to is that you will
probably find that any service will have some of both headings. I
subscribe to Bibliofile which provides a CD search disk that contains
Marc records provided for the most part by Catalog Card Corporation
(this is aSears database), but I know that some of the headings are
actually LC, notSears.  If I feel they may be confusing, I delete
them, but many times Ithink it is helpful to leave them in as another
search possiblity.

Donna Schneider
Renton School Dist.
Renton, Wa
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From:  Bonnie Baumann Harrison <bharriso@silver.sdsmt.edu>
When we retroconverted we did so with LC subject headings and all new
books are entered the same way.  However, the approx. 25% of our
collection that could not be matched and therefore was typed in has
Sears subject headings.  We have not made a real effort to clean up
the differences and do not seem to be having many problems.  The Sears
subject headings will be gradually phased out since they appear on the
oldest books in the collection.  You might consider such a gradual
process as well.The Sears and LC subject headings are getting closer
together. There are now many subject headings that are the same. The
15th edition of SEars is very different from the 14th. I would,however
caution you against using the Dewey Numbers from subject listings. My
experience has been that only the most general headings are included.
Joie Taylor
Coordinator of Libraries
*********************************
Columbus Public Schools                         Change is difficult,
P.O. Box 947                                    even when you want it.
Columbus, NE 68602
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Are you automated yet?  Or, are you getting ready to do a recon for
automation?  I would NOT switch subject headings in mid-stream unless
you are getting automated and thus can put everything in either Sears
or LC--otherwise you'll have a mess!  Some of the subject headings are
quite different--others are quite similar.  I would stick with Sears
unless you are automating and can start from scratch.  But, I think
the question to ask is:  What are the benefits of LC over Sears in a
children's collection?

Cheryl King, Librarian
Agana Heights Elementary
Box DE
Agana, Guam 96910
E-Mail:  Cheryl.King@KUENTOS.GUAM.NET
-----
  You don't mention whether you are automated or not. It makes a big
difference in the time required to change the current Sears to new LC
headings. I wouldn't even consider it if not automated (retyping all
those catalog cards and then filing them would be a real bear).
   If you are automated, I'd say do it. While it may not really matter
to your patrons today, LC headings are the standard for developing
union catalogs. And eventually we'll all be part of a union catalog
somewhere.
  If you are in the process of automating then this is the perfect
opportunity to get this done. If purchasing the MARC records, simply
specify LC headings ONLY. If you're using something like Precision One
or Gaylord's SuperCat, then delete any non-LC headings as you save
eace record.
  About the Dewey, I'd recommend purchasing a copy of at least the
abridged version. While _LC Subject Headings for Children_ may include
Dewey numbers, it doesn't include every LC heading. What will you do
withmaterials that don't fit in the printed list?
        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        Melissa Davis                   Librarian
        Splendora Middle School         Splendora I.S.D.
        P O Box 168                     Splendora, TX 77372
        Internet: mbdavis@tenet.edu     PHONE: (713)689-2853
        CompuServe: 75146,771           FAX: (713)689-8702
-----
Having finished automating 45 schools in 18 months with union catalog,
I would recommend going with the LC Subject Headings.  The vendor
dealing with electronic records do a better job with LC.  And, if you
are cataloging using CIP, those headings are LC.  And yes, there is a
big difference.
Sandy Sharps (sharps@tenet.edu)                 Library Technologist
Region 10 ESC                                   214 231-6301, ext. 439
400 E. Spring Valley                            214 231-3642 (fax)
Richardson, TX  75083

--
Susan Brown             smbrown@mindspring.com
Media Specialist
Westside Elementary
Cedartown, GA



--
Susan Brown             smbrown@mindspring.com
Media Specialist
Westside Elementary
Cedartown, GA