Subject
- Element Name
- Definition
- Where Can the Subject Information be Found?
- How Subject Works in the Metadata Form
- How Should the Subject be Filled in?
- General Subject/Keyword Rules
- Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
- UNT Libraries Browse Subjects (UNTL-BS)
- Subjects from Other Established Thesauri or Controlled Vocabularies
- Keywords and Phrases (KWD)
- Named Persons (named_person)
- Other Examples:
- Comments
- Resources
Element Name
Subject/Keyword
Definition
The subjects or topics that succinctly describe the content of the resource.
Where Can the Subject Information be Found?
In many cases, the item must be read/examined to find subjects and keywords but they may come from:
| Item Types |
Information Sources |
|---|---|
| For text |
|
| For images |
|
| For maps |
|
| For music scores |
|
| For videos |
|
| For sound files |
|
| For computer files |
|
In some cases subjects may come from accompanying or supplementary information.
How Subject Works in the Metadata Form
- Parts:
- 1. Subject qualifier -- drop-down menu
2. Subject -- text field - Repeatable?
- Yes - to include multiple subjects, click 'Add' to repeat all field parts
How Should the Subject be Filled in?
General Subject/Keyword Rules
- Information in the subject/keyword field should describe what the item is 'about'
-
- Subjects/keywords answer questions like: who, what, where, and when
- Choose as many terms as necessary to capture subject content:
-
- Avoid terms too general to describe a particular item
- Only include geographic subjects when the particular place is important to the subject content
- An average of five subject/keyword entries is recommended
- Names can be used as subjects
- Follow the general formatting rules for consistency
-
- Subjects from controlled vocabularies must use the exact capitalization, punctuation, etc. as the source
-
- Choose the appropriate subject type from the controlled vocabulary
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
| Guideline | Example |
|---|---|
|
Bee culture -- Equipment and supplies. Fort Wolters (Tex.) Capote, Truman, 1924- |
|
Costume -- China -- History -- Ming-Qing dynasties, 1368-1912. |
UNT Libraries Browse Subjects (UNTL-BS)
- UNTL-BS are used specifically in Portal records
- For records about Portal objects, include at least one subject (preferably more) from the UNT Libraries Browse Structure
- Choose as many appropriate terms as necessary from the UNTL-BS list
| Guideline | Example |
|---|---|
|
Sports and Recreation - Riding - Bulls |
|
Social Life and Customs - Customs - Weddings |
Note: Additional subjects are added to the UNTL-BS whenever there are enough items to warrant it, so the number of subjects is consistently growing. If you would like to suggest a new subject, please notify Hannah Tarver (hannah.tarver@unt.edu).
Subjects from Other Established Thesauri or Controlled Vocabularies
- It is strongly recommended that subject words and phrases come from established thesauri or discipline-related word lists
- For each, the vocabulary that was used should be identified
- If the name of the controlled vocabulary is not in the list, choose "other" and notify the metadata administrators
Keywords and Phrases (KWD)
| Guideline | Example |
|---|---|
|
horseback riding |
|
Girl Scouts of America |
|
cadastral maps |
|
quilting |
|
knife knives |
|
Description: Postcard of buildings at Ft. McIntosh. Keyword: Fort McIntosh UNT University of North Texas |
- It is not necessary to repeat terms from controlled vocabularies as keywords
Named Persons (named_person)
- 'Named persons' refers to people who are significant in some way to the content of the item
(See below for more clarification.)
- Only include names as 'named persons' if a surname is known
- If only a first name, first and middle names, or nickname is known:
- Use the name in the content description (if relevant)
- Use the name in the title (if relevant)
- All names should have the same format:
| Guideline | Example |
|---|---|
|
Lott, Leanna Ivory |
|
Thompson, J. D. |
|
Williams, Mary Deline Xenia Buchanan |
|
Smith-Jones, John van Tyen, Jan |
|
Steever, Col. Edgar Z. Smith, Mrs. John M. Stolte, Hugo C., Jr. |
|
Smith, John M. (Bubba) |
|
Austin, Stephen F. (Stephen Fuller), 1793-1836 |
|
Buchanan, Menvil Mae Seastrunk, Menvil Mae |
|
Named Person: Cody, William Frederick Keyword: Buffalo Bill |
Should someone be a 'named person'?
| Named Person |
Not a Named Person |
|---|---|
| Person definitely identified in a photograph |
Person hesitantly identified (S. M. Garvin?) - keyword Person not visible in the photograph - keyword Statue or likeness of a person - keyword |
| Plaintiff or defendant in a court case |
Person mentioned once in a court transcript - not included |
| Person who is the subject of an entire or significant portion of a book |
Person mentioned in a paragraph or two of a book - not included |
| Author of an autobiography |
Author of texts not about themselves - creator/contributor |
| Author and addressee of a letter |
Person mentioned in passing in a letter - not included |
Other Examples:
- Navy pamphlet: The Texas Navy.
- Subject: Military and Wars - Wars - Texas Revolution
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Military and War - Transportation - Ships
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Texas -- History, Naval.
Type: LCSH
Subject: Ships.
Type: LCSH
Subject: Texas -- History -- Republic, 1836-1846.
Type: LCSH
Subject: independence
Type: KWD
Subject: battleships
Type: KWD
Subject: schooners
Type: KWD
Subject: naval vessels
Type: KWD
Subject: Nimitz
Type: KWD - Photograph: [Look-out Tower at Fort Davis]
- Subject: New Deal, 1933-1939 -- Texas -- Fort Davis.
Type: LCSH
Subject: Davis Mountain State Park (Tex.)
Type: LCSH
Subject: Architecture - Civil Works
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Places - United States - Texas - Jeff Davis County - Fort Davis
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Landscape and Nature - State and National Parks
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Civilian Conservation Corps
Type: KWD
Subject: overlooks
Type: KWD
Subject: scenery
Type: KWD
Subject: mountains
Type: KWD
Subject: deserts
Type: KWD - Photograph: Jim Goin and Mr. [Fred] Cummings. Ice delivery in Aubrey
- Subject: People - Individuals
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Business, Economics and Finance - Transportation - Automobiles
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: cars
Type: KWD
Subject: wagons
Type: KWD
Subject: Goin, Jim
Type: named_person
Subject: Cummings, Mr. Fred
Type: named_person - Letter to Cromwell Anson Jones, 19 May 1869
- Subject: People - Individuals - Mary Jones
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Social Life and Customs - Correspondence
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Jones, Mary Smith McCrory, 1819-1907 -- Correspondence.
Type: LCSH
Subject: letters
Type: KWD - Map of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway
- Subject: Landscape and Nature - Geography and Maps
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Business, Economics and Finance - Transportation - Railroads
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway -- Maps.
Type: LCSH
Subject: Railroads -- United States -- Maps.
Type: LCSH - Texian Campaigne plate
- Subject: Military and War - Wars - Mexican War
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Social Life and Customs - Food and Cooking
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Social Life and Customs - Furnishings - Dishes
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Food T&E
Type: NMC (Chenhall's)
Subject: Tools & Equipment for Materials
Type: NMC (Chenhall's)
Subject: ceramics
Type: KWD
Subject: plates
Type: KWD
Subject: Texian Campaigne
Type: KWD - Surgical Scalpel, 19th Century
- Subject: Science and Technology
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Devices, Medical
Type: OTH
Subject: surgical knife
Type: KWD
Subject: surgical knives
Type: KWD - Thesis: An 8-step program: Shaping and fixed-time food delivery effects on several approximations and undesired responses in goats
- Subject: Clicker training (Animal training)
Type: LCSH
Subject: Goats -- Training.
Type: LCSH
Subject: Operant conditioning.
Type: LCSH
Subject: shaping
Type: KWD - Music score: Daisy: Opera in Two Acts
- Subject: Low, Juliette Gordon, 1860-1927 -- Drama.
Type: LCSH
Subject: Girl Scouts.
Type: LCSH
Subject: Operas -- Scores.
Type: LCSH
Subject: Girl Scouts of America
Type: KWD
Subject: music
Type: KWD
Subject: conductors
Type: KWD
Subject: voices
Type: KWD
Subject: instruments
Type: KWD - Photograph: [Portrait of Jessie Bogle Hubbard]
- Subject: Bogle family.
Type: LCSH
Subject: People - Individuals
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: Social Life and Customs - Customs - Weddings
Type: UNTL-BS
Subject: wedding dresses
Type: KWD
Subject: portraits
Type: KWD
Subject: Bogle, Jessie
Type: named_person
Subject: Hubbard, Jessie Bogle
Type: named_person
Comments
- Since the "subject and keywords" element describes both what the object is about and what it is, some subject-related information may be repeated in other elements:
- A digital image that is a photograph could be given the subject "Photographs," and also listed in the Resource Type element as "Image-Photograph."
- To describe a resource, such as an autobiography, that is about its creator, place the creator's name in both the subject/keyword element and the Creator element.
- Although geographic terms are normally handled by the Coverage (Place Name) element, subject fields could include geographic terms as well.
Resources
- Library of Congress Authorities
- Art and Architecture Thesaurus
- Legislative Indexing Vocabulary
- Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
- Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Electronic Resources (UNT staff/students can use this to get to Classification Web)
- UNT Subject Qualifier Controlled Vocabulary
- UNT Libraries Browse Subjects