National Library News July/August 1999 Vol. 31, nos. 7-8

Nunavut:
Revisions to Canadian Subject Headings, Répertoire de vedettes-matière, Class FC, Dewey Decimal Classification and to the MARC Format

The new Canadian territory of Nunavut was formed on April 1, 1999 from land that had been part of the Northwest Territories. The remaining area of land will continue to use the name Northwest Territories until such time as residents vote on a new constitution, which will then require Canadian federal legislative approval.

Name and Subject Headings

• The name headings for these territories are Nunavut and Northwest Territories. These headings will be assigned in this same form as geographic subdivisions and may also be assigned as subject headings. When used as qualifiers, the forms are (Nunavut) and (N.W.T.).
• Changes are being made to Canadian Subject Headings and to the Répertoire de vedettes-matière to reflect this development.
• More extensive information on the National Library’s practice related to these changes can be found on the National Library Web site at the following URL: <www.nlc-bnc.ca/catalog/enunsubj.htm>.

Class FC has been revised to include a new section for Nunavut: FC4301-FC4350. Class FC: Additions and Changes, #2 contains these changes and is available on the Web at the following URL: <www.nlc-bnc.ca/pubs/abs/eclassfc.htm>.

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC 21)

The National Library, in consultation with the editorial staff of the Dewey Decimal Classification, has revised the area notation for —719 Northern Terrritories in Table 2 to accommodate a new number for Nunavut (—7195) and a revised notation for the newly defined Northwest Territories (—7193). Full information can be found on the National Library and OCLC Forest Press Web sites. The Association pour l’avancement des sciences et des techniques en documentation (ASTED), publisher of the French edition of the Dewey Decimal Classification, will incorporate the revisions in updates to the French translation.

MARC Codes

New country and geographic area codes have been defined for use in MARC records.

The new codes for Nunavut are:

Codes for the Northwest Territories will remain the same:

For further information, contact

Margaret Stewart
Standards and Support Division
Acquisitions and Bibliographic Services
Telephone: (819) 994-6900
Fax: (819) 953-0291
E-mail: cataloguing.standards@nlc-bnc.ca