Does everyone know that there’s a version of Library of Congress Subject Headings on the Classification Plus CD available from LC’s Cataloging Distribution Service? As of this writing, the compact disk service now includes the LCC schedules, tables, and indexes for most of the law classifications (K, KD, KE, KF, KJV-KJW, and KZ). Therefore, it is quite likely that many law libraries have acquired or will consider acquiring this handy cataloging tool. So, what is the “plus” in Classification Plus? Well, apart from the added functionality that you get from machine-readable arrays, hyperlinking, and other “bells or whistles,” the most obvious answer in this case has to be: the LCSH. Yes, indeed, the content of all five of those hefty big red books is included on this CD. But, we are already accustomed to using the LCSH in other formats; would there be any advantage(s) to using the LCSH that comes with Classification Plus? Let’s consider several factors ...

Convenience. Undoubtedly, if law catalogers are already using the CD for verification or selection of class numbers anyway, then it will be very efficient to simultaneously use the LCSH from this source. (Our library’s Senior Cataloging LTA has set up his computer to logon to Classification Plus automatically every morning when he first signs on to the PC network.) The choice for the “LCSH” file appears right on the opening screen, below the letters for the various LCC classes/subclasses.

Ease of use. In appearance and content, this application has the same look-and-feel as the printed version of LCSH. However, it’s easier to maneuver between the subject headings and cross-references, because of the many hot links. When you’ve used the “search” button and then the Go to: command from its drop-down menu, the system takes you to the heading that is the closest match to your search term. From here, you will see that the heading’s listed narrower terms (NT), broader terms (BT), and other related terms (RT) are also active links, which means that you can instantly redirect your search to one of those terms simply by clicking on that term. This is unquestionably less cumbersome than having to physically manipulate more than one volume of the print edition, when you are shopping for the right subject heading. If it happens that the search term(s) used in a Go to: command matches the wording of an unused variant (e.g., “Legal reasoning”), the system will place you not at that USE cross-reference, but rather, at the next valid (established) heading that alphabetically follows the term you used (in this case, “Legal research”). However, since this is a browsable index, you can scan upwards--using the arrow key, the scroll bar, or the page-up device--until you find what you needed, “Legal reasoning, USE: Law--Methodology.” And let’s not take that browsable feature for granted. So many other sources of online subject headings are entirely too literal, or what information science has called “unforgiving,” in that the input of a term or phrase that has no exact match will result in a NO ENTRIES FOUND or NO MATCHING RECORDS message, rather than presenting the headings that are near-matches.

Much more powerful are the Query or Advanced query commands, with which you can use keywords and Boolean operators, and these do index on the cross-references as well as the headings. Input the words “pollution damages,” for instance, and this will lead you to the following established headings:

Liability for air pollution damages
Liability for hazardous substances pollution damages
Liability for noise pollution damages
Liability for oil pollution damages
Liability for soil pollution damages
Liability for water pollution damages

There is no such collocation to be found in LCSH under the entry words “pollution damages” or “Damages (Law) for environmental pollution.” This sort of functionality might be quite useful if one is searching for something like “safety regulations” (often used as a subject subdivision), when it doesn’t matter or the searcher is unsure about the industry or product given as the main heading. You can also input the query words in any order, e.g., “inflation effect” will retrieve headings or references for all instances where the subdivision “--Effect of inflation on” has been established.

Links to LCC numbers. The printed LCSH does list LC classification numbers or number ranges when there is a one-to-one correspondence to a subject heading, and these also are given in the MARC subject authorities, in field 053. The advantage found in the Classification Plus CD is that, most of these are active hyperlinks. For example, at

Victims of crimes (May Subd Geog)
   [HV6250-HV6250.4]
     UF -- Crime victims; Victimology
     BT -- Victims
     SA -- subdivision Crimes against under classes of persons and ethnic groups
     NT -- Abused children; [etc.]

the cataloger is able to “click” directly on the beginning class number and instantly display a screen view of that part of the HV schedule, to see the hierarchy, other context, scope notes and nearby topics as a first step in selecting an appropriate call number for the work being cataloged. (This does not work in reverse, however. If the cataloger selects a class number first, there is no listing of LCSH terms or phrases that correspond to the class number. The MARC format for authorities does contain a field for carrying such data, but this has not yet been implemented by the Library of Congress.) Unfortunately, those of us in law libraries will not benefit nearly so much as other catalogers from this subject-heading-to-LCC-numbers linkage. That is because, whereas the subject headings are largely arranged by topic first, and then subdivided by place, in the LC classification the primary sort in law fields is by jurisdiction, with a secondary arrangement by topic. Hence, the “corresponding” class numbers for general Marriage law, for instance, are too numerous to be listed (i.e., KD753 for United Kingdom; KF506-KF510 for United States; KK1121 for Germany; etc.) This is not to say that there are no LCC numbers listed in the LCSH section of Classification Plus for law-related topics. You can find a few for general or comparative law (K subclass) or for the new Law of Nations (KZ) subclass. Here are two examples (shown without the LCSH cross-references):

Human rights (May Subd Geog)
  [JC571-JC628 (Political science)]
  [K3236-K3268 (Law)]

Law of the sea (May Subd Geog)
  [KZA1002-KZA4205]

Note that the corresponding class numbers for Human rights are of two types: one for works with a political science emphasis, and the other for works that focus on law. Regrettably, due to some technical problems, the last two 1999 issues of Classification Plus have not included active hyperlinks for the newly-added LCC subclasses, which included the K and KZ schedules! I was told by LC’s Cataloging Distribution Service that this will be corrected, however, for Issue 1 of the year 2000, and the successive cumulative replacements.

Bells and whistles. There are several features of this Folio Views-based product that allow the user to customize it and increase its usefulness. With the “shadow file” feature you can make annotations at specific points--to record local practice, for example, or add particular reminders to yourself (like attaching post-it notes in a manual!). Edit, cut-and-paste, and replace functions are also operational for the local annotations. Bookmarks and highlighting of text is also available. Records can be tagged, and menus, the toolbar and views can be customized, including the ability to collapse or expand the different contents panes. There is also a convenient hypertext link to the LC Weekly Lists, which are available on the Web.

Currency. Speaking of the Weekly Lists, it should be mentioned that the Classification Plus CD will generally not include subject headings or references created or revised in the last 3-6 months. However, this makes its quarterly cumulations more current than the printed, annual edition of LCSH, which is usually 6-18 months behind the cut-off date for new data, depending on when it is being consulted. The CD often arrives 2-3 months earlier than the quarterly microfiche version of LCSH, as well, particularly if the library receives the fiche as a Government Depository item. The most current version of cumulated LCSH is that found in databases that contain the backfile of USMARC-format Subject Authorities and load the updating tapes/files which are sent on a weekly basis. (Such a file is available online to OCLC customers, for instance.)

Disadvantages. As has been stated in this column many times, the LCSH system cannot be applied by using the list alone, but often must be supplemented by consultation of the instruction memos in LC’s Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings (SCM: SH). Unfortunately, the Classification Plus CD does not include this manual; the manual is instead found on the Catalogers Desktop, another CD tool distributed by the LC Cataloging Distribution Service. However, the CDS offers a discount to those who purchase both CD’s, and the interface between the two functions makes it very handy to consult both at once without leaving your PC. It should also be noted that, as more of the subject subdivision authority records (begun by LC in early 1999) are created, the need for frequent use of the SCH:SH ought to diminish. Another drawback to the CD is that, unless you are already familiar with the Folio software functionalities, it does require some investment of time to learn to use all of the so-called “bells and whistles” mentioned above. Nevertheless, many of the other advantages of the Classification Plus CD can be enjoyed immediately (i.e., its powerful search capabilities, quick and convenient redirections to related headings, and the active links to LC classification schedules).

For more information about this CD and the Catalogers Desktop CD, see the LC Cataloging Distribution Service Web site [http://lcweb.loc.gov/cds/].