Subject Heading Searching

Performing a Subject Heading Search

A. Direct Method (use this method when the exact subject heading is known)
  1. Consult the LCSH books in your library to determine the correct vocabulary to use for your topic.
  2. Highlight the "Subject Search" option in the "Search by:" menu.
  3. Type your search string in the "Search For:" box. Omit all punctuation.
  4. Click on the search button to initiate the search.
Examples
Topic LSCH Type in "Search For" box
Something about
Shakespeare

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
shakespeare william
Cars Automobiles automobiles
Drug Use in Sports Doping in sports doping in sports
The Civil War United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 united states history civil war 1861 1865
B. Indirect Method - This method is most useful when the exact heading is not known but the searcher does know a general topic. It is used to determine the authorized subject heading from another bibliographic record. Once the controlled heading is identified in a bibliographic record, it can be clicked on to retrieve all such like headings in the database. To do this, a bibliographic record must be displayed and its subject headings examined. The purpose is still to find the controlled subject heading, but in this case, another search type is used to identify the controlled heading.

  1. Use a free text index such as the "Keyword Boolean" or "Keyword Ranked" to retrieve potential hits.
    For example: a keyword Boolean search for mercy and killing
  2. Review the search results for suitable matches and select the most relevant record
    For example: Euthanasia
  3. Choose an appropriate subject heading from the record. to retrieve all bibliographic records in the database with that assigned subject heading.
  4. For example: Euthanasia
  • Click on the appropriate Subject Heading in the Subject Heading Index
    For example: Euthanasia
  • Choose the individual records you wish to display.
  • Search Tips Subject Search (Search Tab) Search Tab
    1. Select "Subject Search" from the Search by: box.
    2. Type in your search terms in the Search for: box.
    3. Click Search Button or press the ENTER key.
    Subject Search (Guided Search Tab) Search Tab
    1. Type a subject heading in a Search for: box.
    2. Select "Subject" from the corresponding Search by: option drop-down menu.
    3. Click Search Button or press the ENTER key.
    Send comments and suggestions to Dick Swain, rswain@wcupa.edu
    These pages last updated on 3 January 2001