* 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!
