LIS EDU NETWORK CATALOGUING TOOLS
Find the right
subject headings.
Turn subject phrases into LCSH candidates. Check their Library of Congress authority records, choose the relevant headings, and export your selection.
Describe your resource
Start with a title or subject phrasesOnly search phrases and authority identifiers are sent for lookup. How your input is used
Ready. Enter a title or subject phrases to begin.
Candidate headings 0
LC search matchesSearch matches are suggestions. Select Check & add to confirm an authority record before export.
QUICK START
How to use this LCSH generator
- Describe the subject. Enter the title and an optional summary, or type up to four subject phrases. Specific English phrases usually work best.
- Find candidate headings. The tool searches Library of Congress subject data. If you leave the phrases blank, it extracts up to four phrases from your title and summary.
- Review the matches. Read the heading and any available scope note. Open the LC record to examine the term in context.
- Check and add. The tool checks that the selected record is a current, authorized topical or geographic LCSH heading and reads its MARC subfields.
- Export your shortlist. Copy headings or MARC fields, download TXT, CSV, or JSON, or print your selection. Review it before adding it to your catalogue.
ABOUT THE VOCABULARY
What are Library of Congress Subject Headings?
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) provide standardized subject terms for describing library resources. Consistent headings help readers discover material on a topic even when titles use different words.
Headings can include subdivisions that express a topic, place, period, or form. In this tool, supported subdivisions come directly from the selected authority record. The tool does not invent new heading combinations.
=650 \0$aInformation literacy$0http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh00007046650 = topical subject · second indicator 0 = LCSH · $0 = authority identifierThis tool supports topical and geographic headings recorded in the LCSH subject authority file. Names requiring personal, corporate, meeting, or title authority fields are outside this version’s scope.
Frequently asked questions
Is this LCSH subject heading generator free?
Yes. Visitors do not need an account, an AI API key, or a subscription to use this tool.
Can I generate headings from a book title alone?
You can search using a title, but the tool uses keyword extraction rather than full subject analysis. Add a summary or enter subject phrases for more useful matches. Always check the book’s content.
What does “Authority verified” mean?
The selected record was confirmed as an authorized LCSH heading, with a supported MARC authority field. It does not certify that the heading accurately describes your book. Cached authority records may be up to 24 hours old; each selection shows its check time.
Can I use the MARC output in Koha?
You can copy the values into the appropriate 650 or 651 fields in your Koha MARC editor. Preserve the indicators and subfield codes. The backslash in the displayed field represents a blank first indicator. The exported text contains field snippets, so do not import it as a complete bibliographic record.
Why are there no results for my subject?
Try a shorter English phrase, a broader concept, or a different synonym. Split separate concepts onto separate lines. Some valid LCSH combinations are built under subdivision rules and do not have separate authority records; this tool does not construct or validate those combinations.