Cataloging Maintenance Center (CMC)

The Cataloging Maintenance Center (CMC) is providing Subject Analysis training for library staff in any Illinois library. This is a 6-week course using Moodle software. There are text files, online quizzes, assignments, and links to outside resources (OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards, Library of Congress authority file, MARC21 for Bibliographic Data, videos, and documents). Topics covered include controlled indexing language, keyword versus controlled vocabulary, the purpose of subject headings, the 20% rule, content analysis, Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), word-based approaches to retrieval, Sears List of Subject Headings, and MeSh (Medical Subject Headings).

This is an asynchronous course, so you will not need to log in at a specific time, but you are expected to complete assignments and quizzes by the end of each week.

Registered participants will be e-mailed a login and password before the course begins.

Learning Objectives
Determine relevant subject headings from summary statements.
Understand keyword versus controlled vocabulary.
Create subject headings in a MARC (MAchine Readable Cataloging) format.
Perform content analysis.

Prerequisites
MARC formatting of subject headings.
Knowledge and understanding of authority records.