INFORUM 2006 - 12. Annual Conference On Professional Information Resources

Polythematic Structured Subject Heading System as a Tool to Organize Electronic Information Resources by Subject [poster / contribution]

Author: Linda Skolková,  State Technical Library in Prague, Czech Republic

Co-author: Markéta Máliková /Státní technická knihovna, Lucie Šmídová / Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická v Praze, Ústav informačních studií a knihovnictví FF UK

Fulltexts

Abstract

The paper will briefly present the latest 2.0 version of the Polythematic Structured Subject Heading System (PSH, http://www.stk.cz/en/psh_en.html) which has been created at the State Technical Library in Prague (as a revised upgrade of the previous 1.4 version) and is prepared for release in 2006.

The subject heading system is used in many Czech libraries for the purpose of subject cataloguing of various documents, especially classic printed books whose electronic records are then made available in online library catalogs. The system may also be used as a tool for subject cataloguing of electronic information resources and, subsequently, for their user friendly graphic display.

Therefore, the key part of this paper consists of two case studies. One of them will present the use of the subject heading system in the STM Portal (http://www.portalstm.cz, produced by the State Technical Library), the other will deal with its use in the ESO Portal (Electronic Study Aids, http://www.vscht.cz/eso/, produced by the Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague).

We will also describe ways in which users may work with the subject heading system in different user environments (interfaces) available online via the Internet. The importance of the system’s tree structure for browsing (i. e. the navigation among electronic information resources which is complementary to searching as another way to locate requested documents) will also be underlined.

About the author

Linda Skolková has successfully completed her undergraduate studies (Information Studies and Librarianship Programme) at the Institute of Information Studies and Librarianship, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, Charles University, Prague (IISL) in 2005. Now she continues her studies at master’s level (also at the IISL). Since 2006 she also works at the State Technical Library in Prague where her responsibilities include management and further development of the Polythematic Structured Subject Heading System (PSH).

She also works at the IISL as a student assistent, helping teachers. She is a member of Ikaros editorial board (Ikaros is an electronic monhtly available at http://www.ikaros.cz), Bulletin SKIP and cooperates with other LIS periodicals. She helps organize IISL seminars and other events, now especially the international student conference BOBCATSSS 2007 and Jinonice Information Mondays. She is a member of the Association of Librarians and Information Professionals of the Czech Republic (SKIP CR) and the Czech Information Society (CIS) and cooperates with SPRIG (Society for the Development of Information Literacy), a non-profit NGO.