“authorities” and strap-on sex
On my fridge I have a photocopy of a letter that Sandy Berman sent to the Library of Congress this August suggesting that they establish dildoes as a LCSH. I got many fascinating photocopies along with it for supporting evidence. I enjoy being on Sandy’s mailing list. Today, vickiep from del.ico.us sent me a link to “strap-on sex” as a new Library of Congress subject heading. Hooray! Unfortunately, links that go into the Library of Congress Authorities searches aren’t permanent but I was able to replicate the search and find the listing for dildoes in the weekly list for September 26th. Of interest to me particularly is that the authority record for strap-on sex contains Wikipedia, Google and “LC database” as notes in the 670 field. update: Tim at LibraryThing has a post showing the record.
October 28th, 2007 at 8:45
Finally, a subject heading for the rest of us.
October 28th, 2007 at 8:49
http://www.librarything.com/thingology/2007/10/lcsh-adds-strap-on-sex.php
October 28th, 2007 at 8:50
My favorite is that “Dildos” can be subdivided geographically.
October 28th, 2007 at 9:00
[...] 28th, 2007 · No Comments Jessamyn from librarian.net posted today that “dildos” is now a new Library of Congress subject heading (LCSH)! [...]
October 28th, 2007 at 10:04
>>My favorite is that “Dildos” can be subdivided geographically.
How does one get that from the record? Can strap-on sex?
October 28th, 2007 at 10:23
@tim: If you go to the record for dildoes — which, if I’m reading things correctly was added at the same time — you can see it in there, pretty sure.
October 29th, 2007 at 2:01
This reminds me of my all-time favorite LCSH, “Self-induced vibration.” Sadly it’s about some scientific/mathematical concept and isn’t nearly as entertaining as it sounds.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:05
[...] additions, such as Dildos and Strap-on sex (both of which may be subdivided Geographically) [see Jessamyn and Thingology], and now stumbling across Spies–Professional ethics, LC is certainly making [...]
October 30th, 2007 at 3:16
a.
What search engines have a thesaurus as part of the features so that alternative search terms are suggested when you have difficulties figuring out the best search terms?…
b.
How would you use the library of congress subject headings as one might use a thesaurus in conjunction with google or with ask.com to figure out alternative search terms?…
October 30th, 2007 at 6:58
[...] Jessamyn has a funny post on the addition of “Strap-on Sex” to the official Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) authorities file.* Apparently she has Sandy Berman’s “Dildoes” LCSH application on her refrigerator.The record itself is at right. I particularly like the third citation, “Google search, August 30.” Apparently the cataloger searched for and then found the term “strap-on dildo sex” in Google. Who would have thunk it? [...]
November 1st, 2007 at 8:29
[...] However, even in this moment of victory, we must pause and acknowledge that while this battle may be won, the war continues; as Jessamyn points out, there is still no LOC subject heading for “dildoes.” [...]