Canadian Subject Headings
Background
The Canadian Subject Headings (CSH) is a list of authorized subject headings that is meant to supplement the Library of Congress Subject Headings. The scope of CSH is focused mainly on Canadian cultural, economic, historical, literary, political and social topics, with few a subject headings in other subject areas.
The National Library of Canada (now Library and Archives Canada) published the first edition of the Canadian Subject Headings in 1978. Regular supplements kept the CSH up-to-date until the second edition was published in 1985. The third edition in 1992 was the last print edition. The regular print supplements ceased in 2000, when CSH on the Web was launched.
The headings in CSH are only in the English language, but they have French language equivalents in Répertoire de vedettes-matière (RVM), published by the Bibliothèque de l’Université Laval. Although the entries in CSH are in English, the authority records contain links to French language equivalents which allow the user to search on equivalent French language headings.
Types of Headings Used in CSH
There are three main types of headings in CSH: topical, geographic, and non-jurisdictional geographic headings related to Canada (such as regions, rivers, parks, lakes, etc.). Library and Archives Canada recently made a change to include headings for parks, historic sites, rivers, lakes, and other physical features not formerly included except as examples. Most geographic headings in CSH can be used as subdivisions unless otherwise noted.
There are some subject areas that are emphasized in CSH because they have a Canadian focus and are not well-represented in LCSH. These subject areas are history, literature, government, geography, social and economic history, the legal system, Canada’s approach to second languages, bilingualism and multiculturalism, and aboriginal or native peoples. There are also a handful of name, name-title, and uniform title headings:
- major treaties of historical significance to Canada
- various statutes and agreements which have figured in Canada’s constitutional history
- headings needed to show relationships between a heading for a corporate body and a topical or geographical heading, for important topics (e.g. Canada--Armed Forces)
- topical headings for a type of entity as well as headings for specific entities of that type (e.g. Political parties--Canada, and Liberal Party of Canada.)
There are a large number of LCSH headings that fall within the subject areas emphasized in CSH. These headings are included in CSH, but are set in a Canadian context. This is usually displayed in the format [topic]--Canada, or [topic], Canadian, (e.g. Transportation--Canada; Short stories, Canadian.)
Headings Structure and Display
Subject headings in CSH are typically shown in three different forms:
- [topic]--Canada. (e.g. Explorers--Canada.)
- Canadian [topic]. (e.g. Canadian newspapers.)
- [topic], Canadian. (e.g. Short stories, Canadian.)
- None of the above. The above forms are not appropriate for a subject heading when the topic already implies something innately Canadian, the topic is a named event, or the topic lacks specific geographic significance.
As in LCSH, headings can also be subdivided by provinces and territories and further subdivided by local place names, or subdivided by other geographic regions (e.g.Festivals--Ontario--Toronto). If the heading is not structured as [topic]--Canada, instructions about geographic subdivision are given in a note.
A heading is considered authorized in CSH, but not LCSH, if either the main part of the heading or the subdivision that follows is unauthorized in LCSH. For headings authorized in CSH, but not in LCSH, the symbol [CSH] follows the valid CSH heading. For example:
Aboriginal tourism--Canada [CSH]
If there is an equivalent LCSH heading not used in CSH, it will appear under EQ:
Cabinet ministers--Canada [CSH]
EQ Cabinet officers--Canada [LCSH]
The indication of [CSH] or [LCSH] does not indicate the library who created the heading. For example, if a heading is labeled [LCSH], that does not mean that the Library of Congress created the heading. To determine the source of creation for a record, view the MARC record and consult the 670 field.
New Headings and Revisions
New headings are added to CSH or revisions made as they are needed. These additions or revisions occur for new bibliographic works, or to reflect policy changes in LCSH or at Library and Archives Canada that affect CSH. While new headings are primarily based on cataloguing done at LAC, suggestions from outside users are also welcomed.
In researching new headings, appropriate reference sources are consulted, both in print and on the web. If justified, experts in specific fields are consulted. The 670 field of the MARC display shows the source(s) of a heading as well as the authority from which it came (LCSH or CSH).
Each month a list is provided of new and revised records in CSH on the Web during the past month to aid the user in identifying changes to the database.
LCSH Conventions
For the use of subdivisions, CSH, like LCSH, uses pattern headings. There are also a few subdivisions created or modified by Library and Archives Canada for the CSH. Refer to the "pattern headings" link above.
Scope notes follow the same principles as those in LCSH. Generally the scope note is provided at the most general heading in a specific subject area. For example, the record for Canadian literature provides a comprehensive scope note for all literary topics.
In general, CSH follows practices outlined in the Library of Congress’ Subject Cataloging Manual. Decisions on spelling and the choice among variant forms of name are based on forms of names approved by the Geographical Names Board of Canada on its Web site Canadian Geographical Names Data Base. All topical headings included in CSH conform to LCSH spelling conventions if the heading is borrowed from LCSH or based on an LCSH heading or policy. However, scope notes and instructions contain Canadian spellings.
For more information about the Canadian Subject Headings, refer to About CSH on the Canadian Subject Headings web site.
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