SACO
When to Propose a New Heading
Proposal Instructions
What Happens Once a Proposal is
Submitted
Research Tips
Princeton Reference Books
SCM Memos for Common Topics
2007 NjP SACOs (pdf) |
Research tips
- The purpose of doing authority research and listing the sources consulted
in the 670 (Sources found) and 675 (Sources not found) fields of the
subject authority record is to demonstrate the form(s) in which the
terms proposed as the heading and UF references are found in existing
literature, or to document the fact that no citation to the term can
be found in likely sources other than the work being cataloged.
- It is usually not acceptable to cite only the work cataloged as authority
for the new concept. It is necessary to seek corroboration or verification
of the term in other sources. Any individual work may or may not be
accurate, may or may not be authoritative, or may or may not present
or advocate a particular point of view.
- Although the concept may be found only in the work being cataloged,
other sources appropriate to the subject area in question should be
cited to demonstrate that the concept was properly investigated. There
will be some situations, for example, with archeological sites or computer
languages, where the only information may be in the work being cataloged.
In those cases, it is helpful to cite definitions or explanatory information
in the work.
- Preference is given to reference sources like dictionaries, encyclopedias,
indexes, and thesauri. Finding usage in titles in databases like LOCIS
or OCLC's World Cat may demonstrate that a particular term is in use
but does not necessarily indicate that it is the best or predominant
way of referring to a topic. Checking for usage in titles is a good
means of finding variant terminology for UF references.
- General dictionaries like Webster's Third and/or Random
House should be checked for all general topics. Appropriate sources
should be checked for special topics, like MeSH and Dorland's
medical dictionary for medical terms, AAT for art, NASA
Thesaurus for astronautics, chemistry dictionaries for chemicals,
etc.
- How much authority work is sufficient will vary with the topic and
what is found in reference sources. If conflicting information is found
in the first two sources checked, further sources may need to be checked
in search of a "tiebreaker." It is sometimes necessary to weigh the
information found in various sources and to determine which source is
more authoritative or current. If the information in the work cataloged
is confirmed in an authoritative source, that is probably all that is
needed.
SACO does not require exhaustive research. The goal is subject authority
research that is good enough to indicate a consensus of usage in relevant
sources
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