Vocabularies Subcommittee Annual Report 2021

submitted by Rebecca Belford

Current Roster

  • Rebecca Belford, Chair (2022)
  • Anne Adams (2023)
  • Josh Aldorisio (2025)
  • Kristi Bergland (2025)
  • Ann Churukian (2024)
  • Patty Falk (2024)
  • Jenée Force (resigned 2020)
  • Joshua Henry (2021)
  • Mary Huismann (2024)
  • Marty Jenkins (2021)
  • Leonard Martin (2023)
  • Allison McClanahan (2023)
  • Jennifer Olson (2023)
  • Treshani Perera (2022; resigned 2021)
  • Kyle Shockey (2021)
  • Tracey Snyder (2024)
  • Clare Spitzer (2025)
  • Mark Scharff, NACO Music Project Coordinator (2025)
  • Beth Iseminger, SACO Music Funnel Coordinator (2025)
  • Maarja Vigorito, Library of Congress Representative
  • Jay Weitz, OCLC Representative

List of Previous Goals and Progress Made

  • Implement regular review of music-related LCSH and LCGFT, and LCMPT terms appearing in monthly LC tentative lists with task group, VS LC representative, and the Music SACO Funnel Coordinator; submit comments to LC when appropriate. Continue with defined projects and ad hoc proposals for LCGFT and LCMPT. Goal areas: Value of the profession. Though not currently a separate, specific goal area in the strategic plan, these vocabularies projects further MLA’s efforts toward Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)
    • Task group has reviewed every monthly tentative list and submitted comments to LC Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division (PTCP) when appropriate.
    • Monthly list review of LCSH has resulted in SACO proposals for corresponding LCGFT/LCMPT terms
    • Project to revise scope note and hierarchy for 16 vocal and choral music terms to remove gender-specific definitions when unnecessary, and creation of 4 new terms, completed and appeared on the April 2021 approved list of subject headings
  • Continue to serve as managing body for the Types of Compositions list and vetting body for the Thematic Indexes list (Goal areas: Value of the profession)
    • Types list continues to grow, based on proposals received from catalogers within and outside CMC structure
    • Thematic Indexes list work resumed in April 2021 after temporary suspension during widespread work-from-home conditions; backlog updated; 2 new entries added to the list, 1 existing entry updated
  • Enhance usability of Types of Compositions by adding plural terms, received as request to VS from cataloging practitioners (Goal areas: Value of the profession)
    • Subcommittee review mostly complete; received outside assistance from non-CMC MLA volunteer with Russian terms
  • Continue to refine and expand the Music Toolkit; explore options for expanding usage of MLA’s mapping work outside of OCLC Connexion Client program (Goal areas: Value of the profession; Education: Technology)
    • Requested and received full updated documentation for review
    • Created separate review and discussion streams for Connexion-specific program and general/transferrable issues
  •  Prepare for future revisions to the LCMPT and LCGFT Best Practices documents (Goal areas: Value of the profession; Education)
    • Monitor developments in LCMPT and LCGFT vocabulary work, MARC format changes, announcements from relevant organizations, discussions from music-related lists, and submissions to the Best Practices suggestion box
    • Task group coordinator and VS Chair completed revision plan
  • Investigate web-based formatting with improved/validated accessibility for implementation in future major revisions of the LCMPT and LCGFT Best Practices documents (Goal area: while not tied to a specific goal detailed in the strategic plan, this supports Accessibility and Inclusion, which is woven throughout strategic planning efforts)
    • Included in revision plan
  • Task group succession planning (Goal area: Operational Excellence)
    • Appointed new coordinators for Thematic Indexes, Types, and Faceted Data tasks groups following MLA 2021 meeting

List of Future Goals

  • Continue review of music-related LCSH and LCGFT, and LCMPT terms appearing in monthly LC tentative lists with task group, VS LC representative, and the Music SACO Funnel Coordinator; submit comments to LC when appropriate. Continue with defined projects and ad hoc proposals for LCGFT and LCMPT.
    • Goal areas: Value of the profession. Though not currently a separate, specific goal area in the strategic plan, these vocabularies projects further MLA’s efforts toward Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)
  • Continue to serve as managing body for the Types of Compositions list and vetting body for the Thematic Indexes list
    • Goal areas: Value of the profession
  • Enhance usability of Types of Compositions by adding plural terms, received as request to VS from cataloging practitioners
    • Goal areas: Value of the profession
    • Revise timeline and resume project, working closely with CMC web editors
  • Continue work to provide tools to partially automate creation of faceted subject/genre/medium fields in catalog records.
    • Goal areas: Value of the profession; Education: Technology
    • Expand scope of existing OCLC Music Toolkit to include formats in addition to scores and music sound recordings
    • Update plan for keeping mappings current with changes/updates in LC vocabularies
    • Initiate discussions with external cataloging organizations to share mutual work on vocabularies mapping (ALA Core SAC Subcommittee on Faceted Vocabularies) and extending functionality to other subsets of LCGFT (OLAC)
    • Explore options to make MLA’s mapping lists and documentation available/downloadable for use with any software/platform
    • Significant progress toward resolving mapping decisions requiring review (deferred or complex musical/conceptual decisions)
  • Issue revised MLA LCMPT and LCGFT Best Practices documents, in a web-based format
    • Goal areas: Value of the profession; Education; [Accessibility and Inclusion]
    • Include requests received through open suggestion box
    • Issue preliminary and final recommendations for revised voice/chorus terms
    • Near-final drafts for discussion at MLA 2022 annual meeting
  • Vocabularies Subcommittee chair succession planning
    • Goal area: Operational Excellence