Cataloguing update
13-digit ISBNs
Introducing ScOT …
New SCIS Subject Headings
13-digit ISBNs
The International Standard Book Number has been expanded from 10 digits to 13. The date for full implementation of ISBN-13 was 1 January 2007; however since 2005 some publishers have been phasing in ISBN-13 by assigning both 10- and 13-digit ISBNs to a resource. From now on most new publications or reprints should come with ISBNs in 13-digit format.
Check Cataloguing FAQs for more information about ISBN-13 in SCIS.
Introducing ScOT …
Subject headings in SCIS OPAC records now look different. Each is followed by either 'scisshl' or 'scot', indicating which list of subject headings it is from. 'scisshl' means that the heading follows the conventions of SCIS Subject Headings which has been used in SCIS records for many years; 'scot' means that it has been selected from Schools Online Thesaurus, a new list of terms to describe the subject content of curriculum resources. OPAC subject searches may retrieve additional headings with 'Schools online thesaurus' in the right-hand column of the results display. Some of these may duplicate or conflict with other headings in the results list. There is more information in Connections 59.
… and a new field
In the MARC view of the record, you may also see an additional field, the 653 field (Index term - Uncontrolled), containing topics that are not in ScOT.
Will ScOT terms appear in my catalogue?
If you get your records by using the SCISWeb 'create orders' and 'upload order file' functions, these additional subject headings will not be included in your catalogue unless you choose to include them. To receive ScOT terms in catalogue records you download, you will need to alter your school's SCISWeb profile. You will find more information about this choice in the SCISWeb profile help screens.
If you use the 'save or print' option at the bottom of the OPAC display to get your SCIS records, these additional subject headings will be included in your records. If you do not want these additional headings in your catalogue, you are advised to use the SCISWeb 'create orders' function to download your records. Customers who use the Z39.50 protocol to communicate with the SCIS database will get the additional subject fields in some catalogue records added since 24 July 2006, unless they take steps to exclude them from their catalogues.
If you have any questions about these changes contact SCIS.
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Classification numbers from Dewey Decimal Classification Edition 22 and Abridged Edition 14 have been assigned to SCIS records since the new editions became available.
Edition 22 is the first edition of the Dewey Decimal Classification to be produced in the web environment. The web version enables DDC to be updated continuously. Such changes are monitored each month for implementation in SCIS records, and are applied once they have been implemented in WebDewey. While many of these changes are too specialised to affect SCIS records, significant changes have included:
- reworking of numbers for terrorism;
- new provision for tsunamis;
- clarification of the distinction between cartoons and graphic novels;
- specialised numbers for parts of Indonesia (such as Bali and Aceh);
- revised treatment of languages and literatures of the former Yugoslavia.
Edition 22 contained many new and changed numbers and topics. For further details see the detailed table available on the website of the Department of Education and Training, WA.
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New SCIS Subject Headings
It is SCIS policy to assign genre headings to works of fiction including fictional films, television programs etc. SCIS has recently completed a review of its genre headings. This review has been conducted in several stages starting in late 2006. The first stage was to standardise and expand the scope notes, which now include detailed guidelines and examples from the Guidelines to SCIS Subject Headings. The final stage was to eliminate anomalies in usage of genre headings for films, which has resulted in the establishment of two new headings: Crime films and Mystery and suspense films.
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