Report title: Vocabularies Subcommittee Annual Report 2021
Submitted by: Rebecca Belford
Email: belford.rebecca@gmail.com
Group name: Vocabularies Subcommittee
Special Officers, Editors, and Liaisons: ALA Subject Analysis Committee (SAC) Liaison

Group Members

• 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

Previous Goals

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
   • Website updates deferred
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. Task group succession planning (Goal area: Operational Excellence)
   • Appointed new coordinators for Thematic Indexes, Types, and Faceted Data tasks groups following MLA 2021 meeting

Future Goals

1. 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)
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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)
5. 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
6. Vocabularies Subcommittee chair succession planning
   1. Goal area: Operational Excellence