Date: Fri, 19 Sep 1997 09:57:43 -0700
From: Kristine Smets <ksmets@JHU.EDU>
Subject: Form/genre headings

We are considering adding form/genre headings to our bibliographic records
for internet resources but before we proceed would like to
investigate/discuss the matter a bit more.  Are any of you adding
form/genre headings for internet resources, or, do you have any thoughts
on this matter?

Some of the questions we would like to answer better before we proceed
are:

- justification?  I understand the need to separate form access from
subject access that is behind much of the discussion about form/genre
headings.  We are planning to create a separate subject index for 655
headings in our next online catalog (scheduled to be implemented in Dec.
1997).  I am also wondering whether we will be able to use the field to
retrieve reports of internet resources records (that can then be used for
automatic web-page generation).

- which thesaurus to use?  I found some obvious candidates for form/genre
headings in LCSH, but would like to know if I could look elsewhere as
well.

 655 7 Web sites. |2 lcsh
 655 7 Electronic newspapers. |2 lcsh
 655 7 Electronic journals. |2 lcsh
 655 7 Online databases. |2 lcsh
 655 7 Computer bulletin boards. |2 lcsh
 655 7 Electronic books. |2 lcsh
 655 7 Electronic directories. |2 lcsh
 655 7 Electronic encyclopedias. |2 lcsh
 655 7 Electronic discussion groups. |2 lcsh

- authority control?

At ALA I attened a session on form/genre access.  It is my understanding
that the computer files catalogers at the Library of Congress will be the
first to implement fully form/genre access once subdivision authority
records have been created.  Any more news about this?

Any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.  I will
summarize for the list.

Kristine

*********************************************************
  Kristine Smets
  Cataloging Projects Coordinator/Original Cataloger
  Milton S. Eisenhower Library, Johns Hopkins University
  ksmets@jhu.edu  (410) 516-7756
*********************************************************