* SUBJECT * SEARCHING* TIP *

Here's a reminder for those of you who may have forgotten and a pointer for those of you who really didn't know: ATLAS handles cross references to Library of Congress subject headings differently depending on where you are searching, such as Bibliographic Services or PAC (including the Web version). When you type: s=cars (or any subject with a cross-reference) this is what you'll see in:

Bibliographic Services 1. Cars, Antique. (0)        2.      see Antique and classic cars. (2)        3. Cars (Automobiles) (0)        4.      see Automobiles. (14)        5. Cars, Classic. (0)        6.      see Antique and classic cars. (2)

or

PAC LINE  # of    #       titles----Subjects-----------------    1      0     Cars, Antique.    2                search for Antique and classic cars.    3      0     Cars (Automobiles)    4                 search for Automobiles.    5      0     Cars, Classic.    6                search for Antique and classic cars.

Now, at this point if you type the number 4 in Bibliographic Services you will get only the 14 titles with the single subject heading automobiles. But if you RETYPE (yes, that's what you do) s=automobiles you will retrieve those 14 "hits" plus all the other subdivisions under automobiles:

 s=automobiles
   1. Automobiles. (14)
        headings beginning with the word Automobile.
   2.      see also narrower term Antique and classic cars. (2)
   3. Automobiles -- Air conditioning. (4)
   4. Automobiles -- Air conditioning -- Maintenance and repair. (18)

PAC makes it easier for patron searches. If you type s=cars and then type number 4 you will be directed automatically (without retyping) to the heading "automobiles" with all the subdivisions.

Specific subject searching using Bibliographic Services or PAC may be preferable to Boolean searching. For example, when you type fi antique cars you find...nothing. But in Bibliographic Services or PAC you are directed to the Library of Congress subject heading Antique and classic cars.

This search method works for all subject terms with cross (or see) references. The easiest Atlas modules for subject searching are PAC and the Web. But, if you're searching in Bibliographic Services and you think we really don't own more than 14 books on automobiles or plastic surgery (or many other subjects) retype the cross-referenced subject heading and a whole world of books opens up to you!