The National Library of Medicine (NLM) wants to remind libraries that beginning with the December 2015 distribution of new records in CATFILE and SERFILE, NLM subject terms (MeSH) will be distributed with topical subjects recorded in 650 $a or 650 $a $x; geographic subjects recorded in 651 $a or 651 $a $x; and publication type/genre terms record in 655 $a. In January 2016, the entire CATFILE and SERFILE databases will be released with these updates made to all the records. NLM recommends that libraries that want their data to be consistent with the NLM files download the full update.
Catalogers in other libraries that use MeSH are encouraged to follow NLM practice in assigning their subjects. Under no circumstances should a library edit a record in OCLC to re-create a string and remove the 651 and 655 fields. Any desired editing should be done only in your local catalog. After January 2016, libraries will be required to establish medical subjects in a deconstructed format in OCLC. OCLC will be updating all records with 650 fields with a second indicator of 2 to follow the new NLM practice in January. NLM is working with authority vendors to provide guidance on how local catalogs can be updated. The Program for Cooperative Cataloging will soon be issuing guidelines for BIBCO and CONSER libraries that use MeSH. The new guidelines will take effect January 1, 2016. Example: Old form (with string) 650 12 $a Health Policy $z Africa $v Congresses 650 12 $a Health Policy $z Caribbean Region $v Congresses 650 22 $a Cross Cultural Comparison $z Africa $v Congresses 650 22 $a Cross Cultural Comparison $z Caribbean Region $v Congresses New form (deconstructed) 650 12 $a Health Policy 650 22 $a Cross Cultural Comparison 651 2 $a Africa 651 2 $a Caribbean Region 655 2 $a Congresses Diane Boehr Head, Cataloging and Metadata Management Section National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike MSC 3823 Bethesda, MD 20894 301-435-7059 [email protected]
