In the are of subject cataloguing, for the purpose of subject entry and decide subject heading,

Sears List of Subject Heading (SLSH) has a great importance. Since the first edition in 1923 ,
the Sears List has served the unique needs of small and medium-sized libraries(having up to
20,000 titles in all subjects), suggesting headings appropriate for use in their catalogues and
providing patterns and instructions for adding new headings as they are required. It is
a lphabetical list of terms and it is unique among subject heading list. The cataloguer mus.t
develop a larger vocabulary because it is not complete list oftenns.

2.1. History ofSLSH:

The Sears List of Subject Headings was first designed in 1923 by Minnie .Earl Sears ( 1873-
1933) based on the needs and requirements of small and medium libraries for simple an
broader subject headings for the use of their dictionary catalogues. It is based on LCSH but in
more simple phrasing and limited entries. The first edition contained only 3200 preferred
headings.

Another important change introduced since its I 5th edition is its thesaurus format of I isling
subject heading by using standard thesaurus abbreviations, i.e. NT, BT, RT, USE and SA
instead ofx, xx etc. This format conforms the ANSI/NISO standards.

2.2. Latest Edition ofSLSH:

The latest edition of the Sears List published in 2018, it is its 22nd edition. This is the first
edition of Sears List produced by Grey House Publishing, which acquired the title in 2018. In
addition to updating the look of Sears List with cleaner lines and more accessible typography,
the content is now also available as a free, online database that librarians can access, at no
charge for one year. The major feature of this new edition oflhe Sears List is the inclusion of
more than 1,600 new and revised subject headings. New headings in this edition reflect the
changing needs of library users, which includes addressing the growing literature in the areas
of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The Sears List of Subject Headings is also available as a database and as MARC records for
direct integration with a library's ILS.

2.3. Essential Features of SLSH:

(i) Easy-to-use thesaurus-like format, with an emphasis on subject terms that makes sense
to catalogers
(ii) Helpful guidance on which subject terms to use for thousands of categories of
information
(iii) Helpful notes outlining USED FOR, SEE ALSO, BROADER TERM, NARROWER
TERMS, and RELATED TERM
(iv) Scope notes to clarify the specialized use of a tenn or to distinguish between terms that
might be confused RDA compliant.
(v) Agreement with the Dewey Decimal Classification system to ensure that subject
beadings conform with library standards.

2.4. Fundamental Principles of SLSH:

The principles of SLSH is based on LCSH with certain modifications and simplification.
There are different types of principles in SLSH but they are broadly classified into the
following five types -

2.4.1. Direct and Specific Entry:

Charles A. Cutter' s Rules for a Dictionary Catalogue states ''Enter a work under its subject
heading, not under the heading of a class which includes that subject." This principles states
that, a work is always entered under a specific term than under broader heading that includes
that specific concept. If a specific subject is not found in the Scars list then the heading for
the larger group or category to which it belongs should be consulted.

2.4.2. Common Usage:

This principle states that, if a word has more than one spellings. then the most popular ones
are chosen for creating the subject headings. Thai means the term chosen as preferred
headings arc from common usa.ge.
Ex, in SLSH, the subject heading should be create under " Dinners" rather than ;.Banquets".

2.4.3. Uniformity:

In case of compiling SLSH uniformity should be ma.intained throughout the book. That
means uniform structure should be maintained for each and every entry.
2.4.3. Uniformity:

ln case of compiling SLSH uniformity should be maintained throughout the book. That
means unifonn structure should be maintained for each and every entry.

Again uniformity also maintained in choosing of subject heading also. Once a heading chosen
should be consistently and uniformly applied in its scope, meaning and spelling until a
decision is taken to the contrary. It, however doesn' t mean that old terms can't be deleted or
new terms can' t be added.

2.4.4. Classification and Subject Heading:

The cataloguer should recognize a fundamental differences between classification and subject
headings for the library catalogue. Classification determines the arrangement of items on the
shelves and here the items are arranged according to their subject or similarity. In case of
cataloguing the arrangement is alphabetically irrespective of subject or similarity. And the
subject beadings is more important in case of cataloguing than classification scheme. Then in
SLSH the arrangement follows as in cataloguing i.e. alphabetica I arrangement irrespective of
subject or similarity.

2.4.5. Maintaining a Catalogue:

Library catalogue is a vital function at the very centre of a library, and as such it is always
growing and changing to reflect the growing collection and to meet the changing needs of the
users. It is challenge to the cataloguer to add new records, revised existing records and make
all the appropriate references. For this purpose, to make the task of the cataloguer easier,
SLSH provides a list of BT, NT, RT, USE and other cross references with each entry of
subject heading.

2.5. Types ofSubjed Headings in SLSH:

ln SLSH there are four types of subject headings -

2.5.1. Topical Headings:

Topical Subject Headings are simply the words or phrases for common things or concepts
that represent the content of various works. In choosing the word or phrase that makes the
best subject heading several things should be considered. These are,
• The literary warrant or the language of the material being catalogued.
The word most commonly used in the literature i.e. the term chosen as preferred
headings arc from common usage.
• Uniformity should be maintained in subject heading by choosing a single word from its
synonyms or near-synonyms and follow this throughout the book.
• Subject headings should be clear and unambiguous.

Ex, United States - History- 1961-1965, Civil War, this subject heading clearly defines that
it is American Civil War.

2.5.2. Form Headings:

Form heading describes not only the subject content of a work but its form. In other words, a
form heading tells us not what a work is about but what it is. Form in this context means the
intellectual form of the material rather than the physical form of the itern.
Some types of fonn headings are as follows,
• The general arrangement of the material and the purpose of the work, e.g. Almanacs,
Atlases, Directories and Gazetteers.
• Heading of major literary form e.g. Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Essays are usually used
as topical subject headings.
• Minor literary fonns also known as genres, e.g. Science Fiction, Epistolary Poetry and
Children's Plays, a re much more numerous and are often assigned to individual literary
work.
• Physical form of some non-book materials, such as puzzles, sound recording, or comedy
films are also identified by form headings.

2.5.3. Geographic Heading:

Many works in a library' s collection are about geographic areas, countries, cities etc. The
appropriate subject heading for such a work is the name of the place in question. Geographic
headings are the established names of individual places from as large as Africa to places as
small as Walden Pond (Mass).

The Sears list doesn't provide geographic headings, which are numerous and far beyond the
scope of a single volume. The geographic that are found in Sears arc such as, United States,
Ohio, and Chicago (UI.), are only as examples. The geographic headings and geographic
subdivisions found in Sears follow the form of abbreviation for qualifying states, provinces,
etc.
Ex. United States - Census

2.5.4. Names:
Ex, Geology - Maps, Children's literature - Bibliography.

2.8. Types of References Use in S LSH:

References in SLSH are grouped into three main categories-

2.8.J. Specific "See" Referen.c es:

The "UF' symbol stands for "Used for", and ii designates those preferred terms or phrases
form which '·see" references are to be made.

The most frequent and helpful varieties of See references direct the users form:
• Synonyms or near synonyms, e.g. Chemical geology USE Geochemistry
• The second part or the compound heading, e.g. Motels USE Hotels and Motels
• Conjunctive i.e. terms connected by "and'', e.g. Religion and Science USE Science and
religion
• Variant spelling, e.g. Gipsies USE Gypsies
• Opposites when they are included without being specifically mentioned, e.g.
Disobedience USE Obedience
• Singular to plural when two forms are not file together, e.g. Goose USE Geese

2.8.2. Specific "See also" References:

A "See also" reference connect a heading to a related heading or headings designated in the
SLSH as NT "Narrow term(s)'' and RT "Related term(s)'', if the library has material listed
under the both headings and it normally move downward from a general to a more specific
tenn(s), e.g. Indoor gardening See also Terrariums; Window gardening.

Ex, Actor
BT Entertainers
NT Comedians
RT Acting

General References: The symbols "SA" stands for "See also" and introduces a general
reference, which refers for one heading to an entire category or class of headings rather than

an individual heading. A general explanation or direction is given instead of a long list of

individual headings.

Ex, Furniture
See also Book cases
Chairs
Desks
Tables

2.9. Advantages of Using SLSH:

(i) Sears List is flexible and expandable.

(ii) SLSH is comparatively simpler to use than LCSH
(iii) The rules and principles are fairly explicit in their directions and containing scope notes
and specific instruction for their use.
(iv) It is small in size, easy to handle and less expensive hence useful for small and medium
.library.
(v) SLSH use terms of common usage for creating subject heading, that is familiar with most
ofihe user.
(vi) SLSH provide useful reference guide for the user and also to the library staff.

2.10. Disadvantages of Using SLSH:

(i) SLSH is generally useful for small libraries with near about 20,000 collect.ion and not
much helpful for large libraries with huge collection.
(ii) The cataloguer must develop a larger vocabulary because it is not complete list oftenns.
(iii) SLSH is not backed up by theoretical foundations intrinsic to subject indexing.
(iv) ·with the growth of knowledge and development of new subjects, facet and phase
relations, ~s en_umerated s~bject he-adingJi!BV~rit.1s~ffl~t respond to new
challenges m subJect catalogumg.