Table of Contents: 2017 NOVEMBER–DECEMBER No. 419
Boehr D, Willis S. Cataloging and Metadata News—2018. NLM Tech Bull. 2017 Nov-Dec;(419):e7.
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) adopted the 2018 MeSH vocabulary for cataloging on November 20, 2017.
Accordingly, MeSH subject headings in LocatorPlus were changed to reflect the 2018 MeSH vocabulary and appear in that form as of November 20, 2017.
When year-end processing activities are completed in late November, the NLM Catalog database and translation tables will be updated to reflect 2018 MeSH. Until then, there will be a hiatus in the addition of new and edited bibliographic records to the NLM Catalog.
The Winter version of the NLM Classification to be published in mid-to-late-January 2018 will encompass changes resulting from new and changed MeSH terms for 2018 as well as additional minor updates to the index. The main index terms will continue to link to 2017 MeSH until the Winter 2018 edition is published in January 2018.
An NLM Classification number appears in many terms in the MeSH Browser and is supplied annually by the NLM Cataloging and Metadata Section (CaMMS) when the MeSH term points to a single classification number in the Classification Index. These class numbers are current as of the Winter 2017 edition of the NLM Classification. They will be updated with the publication of the 2018 Winter edition in January 2018.
Generally, vocabulary changes in NLM bibliographic records for books, serials, and other materials were implemented as they were applied for citations in MEDLINE. For additional information, see MEDLINE Data Changes—2018.
Expression of Concern: This publication type is the only new 2018 Descriptor that cannot be used for cataloging.
Six new geographic descriptors were added. Most of these place names already have Table G notations in the NLM Classification. The rest will be added with the 2018 Winter edition of the NLM Classification.
By
Diane Boehr and Sharon Willis
Cataloging and Metadata Management Section (CaMMS)
Cataloging and Metadata News—2018