Understanding FAST: A Brief Overview of the Faceted Application of Subject Terminology
FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology) is a subject standard with a controlled vocabulary derived from LCSH and NACO. It provides a faceted vocabulary that is easy to assign and interrogate, making it well-suited for libraries. British Library has adopted FAST as its preferred subject scheme, offering benefits like compatibility with MARC coding, suitability for a linked data environment, and reduction of training and documentation overheads. FAST headings follow structured principles and include various facets such as topical, geographic, chronological, events, names, and form/genre. The coding of FAST headings provides a standardized way to classify different subjects.
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FAST: an introduction to the scheme and to its authority control processes Janet Ashton for the British Library
2023: British Library adopts FAST as its preferred subject scheme for mainstream material
What is FAST? FAST: Faceted Application of Subject Terminology: A subject standard with a controlled vocabulary derived from LCSH and NACO, but, A faceted vocabulary, easy to assign and interrogate
What can FAST do for libraries? It is compatible with MARC coding It is well suited to a linked data environment It reduces overheads in training and documentation
Structure/principles of FAST headings A controlled/uniform vocabulary, of course! Terms should be in common and current usage Literary warrant justifies them
FACETS: examples Topical e.g. Dentistry; Civil procedure; Federal aid to adult education; Felix the Cat (Fictitious character); Minerva (Roman deity) Geographic e.g. Puerto Rico; Himalaya Mountains; Zimbabwe Chronological e.g. To 1900; 1066-1485; 1981 (NB These chronological headings are only established when needed as a cross-reference)
FACETS (continued) Events e.g. Paris Peace Conference (1946); Tour de France (Bicycle race); Persian Gulf War (1991) Names as subjects e.g. Clinton, Bill, 1946-; University of Oxford; Inferno (Dante Alighieri) Form/genre e.g. Posters; Guidebooks; Blogs; Biography - Anecdotes
Coding of FAST headings 650 7 $$aCommercial products. $$2 fast $$0 (OCoLC)fst00869578 651 7 $$aUnited States. $$2 fast $$0 (OCoLC)fst01204155 600 1 7 $$a Faulkner, William, $$d 1897-1962 $$2 fast $$0 (OCoLC)fst00029774 61027 $aKoninklijke Bibliotheek (Netherlands)$2fast$0(OCoLC)fst00538619
Coding of FAST headings 630 07 $$aSound and the fury (Faulkner, William) $$2fast $$0 (OCoLC)fst01356578 647 7 $$aRye House Plot (1683) $$2fast $$0 (OCoLC)fst01102638 655 7 $$aPeriodicals.$$2fast$$0(OCoLC)fst01411641 648 7 $$a 1900-1999 $$2 fast
Applying FAST headings In the BL to date, we ve used a very similar approach to LCSH guidance on specificity when applying FAST in most workflows: Be as specific as the book you are cataloguing 20% rule Rule of 3 and rule of 4 Use headings from all categories (name, topic, etc)
Applying FAST headings BUT One of the positive features of FAST is its flexibility An organisation or collection area can use the level of granularity that suits processes or collection requirements (broad or specific as suits)
Applying FAST headings A Review and Criticism of Milton s Paradise Lost Title as subject: Paradise Lost (Milton, John) Form/Genre: Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Applying FAST headings A Italian language textbook for English speakers Topic: Italian language Form/Genre: Textbooks for English speakers
Applying FAST headings An oral history of folk music for English speakers Topic: Folk music Form/Genre Oral histories Form/Genre: Sound recordings for English speakers
Applying FAST headings: where to find them http://fast.oclc.org/ http://fast.oclc.org/searchfast/ http://experimental.worldcat.org/fast/assignfast/
Using FAST in the British Library: history and future Pioneered by project cataloguers Some shortcomings noted in the scheme BL joined the FPOC to contribute to development BL joined the FAST Funnel to contribute to development
Using FAST in the British Library: policy and practice LCSH guidance on specificity applied (but not obligatory) Push headings through from NACO and SACO Candidate new headings via LCSH or SACO contacts
Using FAST in the British Library: policy and practice: sources OCLC s FAST Quickstart guide: - FAST Quick Start Guide (oclc.org) BL FAST FAQs: - OCLC s FAST FAQs: - FAST-FAQ-Nov2019.pdf (oclc.org) But note that policy will evolve over time, and a suite of situations and examples is now in development
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