DETERMINING SUBJECT HEADINGS

Because of the wide variety of materials and their content, libraries use systems to organize materials by classifying and assigning them a specific location number. Library organization systems are based upon classification schemes that group materials together.

Subject headings use controlled vocabulary to describe a book or article.

Subject headings are assigned to each book or other item based on what it is about. CUNY+, our online catalog, uses Library of Congress subject headings. You can search the Library of Congress Subject Headings to see your topic described, with broader and narrower subjects.  The computer will sometimes cross reference from the unused heading to the correct one. 
Ex.: Immigration see Immigration and emigration.