Abstract
Subject assignment is really a three-phase task. The first phase is intellectual—reviewing the material and determining its topic. The second phase is more mechanical, identifying the correct subject heading(s). The final phase is retyping or cutting and pasting the heading(s) into the cataloging interface along with any diacritics, and potentially correcting formatting and subfield coding. If authority control is available in the interface, some of these tasks may be automated or partially automated.
 A cataloger with a reasonable knowledge of FAST[i],[ii] or even LCSH[iii] can quickly get to the proper heading, but usually needs to confirm the final details—was it plural? Am I thinking of an alternate form? Is it inverted? Etc. This often requires consulting the full authority file interface. assignFAST is a Web service that consolidates the entire second phase of the manual process of subject assignment for FAST subjects into a single step based on autosuggest technology.
 
 
 [i] Chan, Lois Mai and Edward T. O'Neill. FAST: Faceted Application of Subject Terminology, Prnciples and Applications Libraries Unlimited, Santa Barbara, 2010.http://lu.com/showbook.cfm?isbn=9781591587224.
 
 
 [ii] OCLC Research Activities associated with FAST are summarized at http://www.oclc.org/research/activities/fast/
 
 
 [iii] Chan, Lois M. Library of Congress Subject Headings : Principles and Application: Principles and Application. Westport, Conn: Libraries Unlimited, 2005.
 
Highlights
Faceted Application of Subject Terminology (FAST) Subject Headings were derived from the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) with the goal of making the schema easier to understand, control, apply, and use while maintaining the rich vocabula ry of the source
AssignFAST headings can be manipulated by the cataloging interface software after selection and before they are entered into the box
The output includes MARC tagging of 651, as well as subfield coding ($z) that identifies the city within Brazil, that it’s a FAST heading, and the FAST control number
Summary
Faceted Application of Subject Terminology (FAST) Subject Headings were derived from the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) with the goal of making the schema easier to understand, control, apply, and use while maintaining the rich vocabula ry of the source. AssignFAST headings can be manipulated by the cataloging interface software after selection and before they are entered into the box. One option available in the assignFAST Demo is MARCBreaker format.[13] MARCBreaker combines MARC field tagging and allows diacritics to be entered using only ASCII characters In this case, the output includes MARC tagging of 651 (geographic), as well as subfield coding ($z) that identifies the city within Brazil, that it’s a FAST heading, and the FAST control number. A simple example is given here to add assignFAST functionality to a web browser interface using JavaScript and jQuery (http://jquery.com) These technologies are commonly used, and other implementation technologies would be similar. The breaker (MARCBreaker) format is only added if it differs from the raw form, which is only when diacritics are present
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
