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ERIC Number: ED028793
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1969-Mar
Pages: 57
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
A Study of the Computer Arrangeability of Complex Terms Occurring in a Major Tool Used in Subject Analysis. Final Report.
Harris, Jessica L.
Based on the principle that alphabetical arrangement should be based on the characters actually appearing in the sort field, a computer filing code was produced which provides rules for formatting entries for computer manipulation. This study applies the principles developed in that code to library subject headings, using a sample of the Library of Congress list of subject headings as a basis. The study was limited to formatting and styling procedures. A preliminary investigation was performed to determine the kinds of headings which would arrange on the computer in an order different from the present one. A set of rules for styling of headings so that they could be computer arranged in an order somewhat simpler than the present one was developed and tested. This test was partially successful: the rules can be applied clerically, and professional effort can be limited to editing on the basis of a preliminary sort. The styled headings were sorted once and edited, and the output will be available from the archives of the Office of Education. The order and appearance of the styled headings are somewhat different from the subject heading list. However, the sorting order of only 2.4% of the headings which were not part of large groups all beginning with the same word was changed. It was concluded that, with some reservations, the study demonstrated that subject headings can be so styled as to file unambiguously on the computer. (Author/JB)
Publication Type: N/A
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: Office of Education (DHEW), Washington, DC. Bureau of Research.
Authoring Institution: Columbia Univ., New York, NY. School of Library Service.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A