How to Create a Subject Type

Summary

Establishing Subject Types is part of the Shared Cataloguing optional module but is not a mandatory requirement. If however, child libraries have a preferred Subject Type it can be set up to accept a preferred MARC Subject Type.

This guide will provide an overview of Subject Types and the steps required to create a subject type. There are guides that aid with importing or manually creating MARC records.

Overview of Subject Types

Some child libraries may prefer Sears MARC authorities Subject headings, while others may prefer to use Library of Congress or other forms of MARC records.

If a MARC record you are importing has a second indicator identifying your preferred Subject Type in the Subject Added Entry fields (600-651), MackinVision will recognize that Subject Type and will only import that relevant Subject Type but not any other Subject Type included on the MARC record. Please note however that if the record you are importing does not contain a Subject Type indicator, then the record will import without discarding the unwanted Subject Type/s.

Once the Subject Type/s is established, it is assigned to relevant Authority Terms included in any imported MARC records. The Subject Type associated to a Subject Authority term can be seen in Cataloging > Authority Files > Subjects > Detail. Only one Subject Type is assigned to a Subject Authority term.

Creating a Subject Type