Summary: This page provides examples of Library of Congress Genre/Form Thesaurus headings that correspond to specific subject headings.

Maps

"Maps" is applied to general kinds of maps that do not emphasize specific themes, or that highlight basic cartographic elements so common to maps in general that they do not need to be accounted for in the subject headings (for instance, common political boundaries, or city streets).
When in doubt, "Maps" is the safest LCGFT heading to use.
A general map of a city:
- 651_0 Lansing (Mich.) ǂv Maps.
- 655_7 Maps. ǂ2 lcgft

Backstage processing

After cataloging, our monthly Backstage processing results in the addition of the LCGFT "Maps" to all map records that don't already have the heading, including those to which more specific cartographic LCGFT terms have been applied. This is a local MSU practice that is not suitable for master records in OCLC.

Thematic maps

The "Thematic maps" LCGFT heading is used when a map highlights some particular subject that is not specifically accounted for with a more specific LCGFT heading (such as those listed farther down this page).
Such subjects are often something physically located in or on the surface of the earth. The presence of common political subdivisions such as states, provinces, counties, etc., by themselves is usually not enough to qualify a map as a thematic map.
If a more specific heading is available, use that instead of "Thematic maps".
When in doubt, it's safest to use "Maps" instead.
Some common subject examples to which we would also likely apply "655_7 Thematic maps. ǂ2 lcgft" (presented here without their corresponding 651 geographic headings):
- 650_0 Railroads ǂz Michigan ǂv Maps.
- 650_0 Soils ǂz Michigan ǂv Maps.
- 650_0 Trails ǂz Michigan ǂv Maps.
- 650_0 Lakes ǂz Michigan ǂv Maps.
- 650_0 Agriculture ǂz Michigan ǂv Maps.
- 650_0 Local transit ǂz Michigan ǂz Detroit Metropolitan Area ǂv Maps.

LCGFT headings for specific kinds of thematic maps:

Specific LCGFT headings have been created for some kinds of thematic maps. Examples include "Road maps", "Geological maps", "Tourist maps", "Military maps", etc.
(Note that we assign the most specific LCGFT heading(s) appropriate.)
Selected examples are presented below. For a complete list of possibilities, see Cartographic genre/form headings.

Road maps

650_0 Roads ǂz Ohio ǂv Maps.
651_0 Ohio ǂv Maps.
655_7 Road maps. ǂ2 lcgft
Note: "Thematic maps" is not assigned because a more specific heading is available.
Note: See also Call numbers and subject headings for road maps

Geological maps

Example 1:
- 650_0 Geology ǂz Michigan ǂv Maps.
- 651_0 Michigan ǂv Maps.
- 655_7 Geological maps. ǂ2 lcgft
Example 2:
- 650_0 Natural gas ǂx Geology ǂz Tanzania ǂv Maps.
- 651_0 Tanzania ǂv Maps.
- 655_7 Geological maps. ǂ2 lcgft
Note: In both examples, "Thematic maps" is not assigned because a more specific heading is available.

Tourist maps

Example 1:
- 24510 Visitor map of Traverse City.
- 651_0 Traverse City (Mich.) ǂv Maps.
- 655_7 Tourist maps. ǂ2 lcgft
- Note that “Tourism--[place]--Maps” is not used, because "a map of tourism" does not logically describe most tourist maps.
Example 2:
- 24510 Guide to Traverse City hiking trails / ǂc produced by the Traverse City Visitors Bureau.
- 650_0 Trails ǂz Michigan ǂTraverse City ǂv Maps.
- 651_0 Traverse City (Mich.) ǂv Maps.
- 655_7 Tourist maps. ǂ2 lcgft
- 655_7 Thematic maps. ǂ2 lcgft
- Note that two LCGFT headings are used: "Tourist maps" because it is a map intended primarily for tourists, and "Thematic maps" because it emphasizes trails specifically. Because "Trail maps" is not a valid LCGFT heading, we choose the next-most-specific possibility

Contact	Tim Kiser
Team	CMS
Updated	May 2018
Created	May 2018

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