Subject cataloging involves determining the “aboutness” of a particular work in hand. It usually involves assigning one or more subject headings from a specified subject thesaurus, such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). The first subject heading assigned is usually called the Primary subject heading, and any additional headings are called Secondary subject headings. These are all text-searchable controlled vocabulary elements used to collocate similar works together in the library catalog. Good Subject cataloging also involves the creation of “see also” references directing users from non-authorized terms to the correct term used in the designated subject thesaurus in the local catalog.

Subject cataloging also involves the assignment of a unique classification number from a predetermined classification schedule such as Library of Congress Classification (LCC) The unique classification number provides a logical way to shelve books on similar subjects in the same area of the library and facilitates browsing and serendipitous discovery.

Subject cataloging takes many years to learn to do well, but is viewed by many catalogers to be the most intellectually satisfying aspect of cataloging work.

Source : LISWiki

How to search using subject in University of Malaya (UM) Library Catalog “Pendeta Discovery”?

Type the exact subject heading as in the subject thesaurus such as Computational fluid dynamics in the search box and press Enter.

For your information UM’s Library is using Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) to determine what an item is about i.e the subject(s).

For those who are not familiar with the exact subject, you may also use the Keyword in Subject headings option and type the word(s) you wish to search. A List of keyword results will be displayed and you may choose any subject you may interested. Keyword searches can retrieve a large number of results.

If you would like further assistance, ask a Librarian for help.

Subject Search Option:

Keyword Subject Headings Option:

Zaharani Aiyub
Head, Cataloging and Metadata Division
University of Malaya Library
22 August 2014.

About Zaharani Aiyub

• As Head, Cataloging and Metadata Division, my primary responsibilities are quality control of the bibliographic records to ensure the adherence to the international standards and provide accurate information and efficient intellectual access and retrieval to materials for catalog users; and also perform original descriptive and subject cataloging for various library materials in a variety of languages and subject fields.