Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 09:43:03 -0500
From: "Bremer,Robert" <bremerr@OCLC.ORG>
Subject: Subject Subdivision Authority Records in OCLC

OCLC recently began loading Library of Congress subject subdivision
authority records which prompted some questions and concerns on various
cataloging email discussion lists.

There is a problem with the display of subject subdivision authority records
in some brief list displays, i.e., those displays of several authority
record entries which are most often retrieved as part of a derived key
search in the OCLC Authority File.  In some cases, the subdivision heading
text is followed by two angle brackets and some garbage characters.  In
other cases, the heading displays as four question marks.  In either
situation, the subdivision heading or reference may not appear in the
correct alphabetical sequence in those displays.  The cause has been
identified, and OCLC plans on installing a software fix this coming weekend
to resolve the problem.  All headings remain correctly indexed; problem is
limited solely to the display and sort order within brief list displays.
There are no apparent problems with the root and expanded index displays
which are retrieved as part of a scan search in the authority file.

There had also been a question regarding the repeatability of field 073 in
subject subdivision authority records.  The field is not repeatable;
although, a few records have been received with repeated 073 fields.  They
will be corrected by the Library of Congress.  Code "lcsh" appearing in
field 073 currently does not pass OCLC online validation.  The validation
rules will be adjusted to correct that problem this coming weekend as well.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can address them to Robert Bremer
(email: bremerr@oclc.org).

--OCLC WorldCat Management Section