FAST: Faceted Application of Subject Terminology : Principles and Application [Paperback]

While The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is perhaps the best known bibliographic control system in existence, it is cumbersome and not always user friendly. Faceted Application of Subject Terminology (or FAST) is designed to rework LCSH's authority rules, so that they are easier to use, understand, and apply. The result is a schema designed to handle a large volume of materials with less effort and cost. To this end, two members of the original design team have put together numerous examples of FAST-driven projects including traditional monographs, special collections (archives, business records), electronic resources, and websites. The result is a prototype designed to be used not just by experienced catalogers but people with minimal training and experience.

Lois Mai Chanis professor of library and information science at the University of Kentucky.

Edward T. O'Neillis a consulting research scientist at OCLC.

Preface
Part I: Introduction
1 Information Organization: Approaches and Principles
Introduction
Information Searching Environments
The Internet
Online Databases
Library Catalogs and Bibliographies
Subject Access to Information
Keyword Searching
Controlled Vocabulary Access
Keyword and Controlled Vocabulary Search Results
Classification
Principles of Controlled Vocabulary
Uniform and Unique Headings
Consistent and Current Terminology
Specific Entry
Terminological Control and Term Relationships
Representation of Complex Subjects
Characteristics of Indexing Languages
Subdivision Practice
Enumerative versus Synthetic Languages
Faceting
Precoordination versus Postcoordination
From Cards to Computers
Card Catalogs
Online Catalogs and Databases
Controlled Vocabulary Systems
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)