Collection: Subject (JACS)

This property is: Optional.

Definition

A single concept (keyword or subject descriptor) that is the subject of the intellectual content of the collection, or of the items in the collection.

Examples

Examples of values for this property, and an explanation of the reasoning for the values.
Value	Explanation
G400	Subject terms for the EEVL Computing Section collection.
G500
G600
G700
G900

Guidelines

Values for this property are defined by the Joint Academic Coding System (JACS). JACS is a subject classification system used by UK institutions to identify the subject matter of course programmes and modules.

JACS terms are usually four characters, for example: A200, but letters on their own are also valid terms. For example: A is a valid term.

Subject Indexing Policy

The set of terms used under each controlled vocabulary must describe the collection fully.

Do not use term(s) that only describe the type, form, spatial coverage or temporal coverage of the collection, as the term(s) will not describe the subject of the collection. For example, if the collection is a database, it should not be indexed with the LCSH term Databases, as this describes the type of the collection only, not the subject of the intellectual content. The type, or form, of the collection is indexed separately under Collection Type and Item Type. Spatial and temporal coverage are indexed separately under Spatial and Temporal. The exception to this rule is Subject (LCSH). LCSH terms that include this information as subdivisions may be used, for example: History--20th century.

Use up to three related terms which are under the same broader term. If more than three terms in the same tree are needed then use the broader term instead. The depth of analysis is at your discretion, but it is suggested that five or more subject terms are entered, unless the collection's subject coverage is very specific.

Multidisciplinary resources may be indexed using the highest level subject terms in the chosen controlled vocabulary. Do not use terms that only describe the type or form of the collection. The set of terms used must fully describe the collection. For example, a multidisciplinary collection might be indexed with the following top-level terms from Dewey:

000
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

as the intellectual content of the collection covers all of these subject areas.

If the collection is a catalogue, index or hierarchical finding aid, then the term(s) used for Subject describe the intellectual content of the collection the catalogue describes (not the intellectual content of the catalogue, index or hierarchical finding aid records themselves). For example, the Copac collection is a catalogue. Subject describes the intellectual content of the books, manuscripts etc described in Copac.

References

[JACS] http://www.hesa.ac.uk/jacs/jacs.htm
[JACS Complete Classification - HTML] http://www.hesa.ac.uk/jacs/completeclassification.htm

Occurrence

Repeatable: there may be multiple values for this property. Enter each value into its own text box.