Proposals related to $v from Tentative List 2607

[Deborah Tomaras]

[Apologies for cross-posting this (hopefully) last email; please share widely, particularly with rare materials librarians]

Dear colleagues:

The ALA Core SAC Working Group on $v Retention would like to draw the library community's attention to several proposals from the Library of Congress on the latest subject headings Tentative List (2607) to change established authority records that include $v. These are: 

• Botany $v Pre-Linnean works → Pre-Linnean botany (sp 85015997)
• Natural history $v Pre-Linnean works → Pre-Linnean natural history (sp 85090231)
• Zoology $v Pre-Linnean works → Pre-Linnean zoology (sp 85149989)

These proposals change a topic/form combination into a topic. Patrons would expect the revised headings to be used for works about Pre-Linnean sciences, not examples of Pre-Linnean scientific works (i.e., contemporary works discussing Pre-Linnean sciences would presumably also get assigned the revised subject headings).

The proposals run counter to the Library of Congress' assurance in January 2026 that "There is no requirement for any institution to follow the Library's practice of not using $v," since libraries cannot choose to use subject headings that no longer exist. They also undermine the January 2026 FAQ statement that "Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) will continue to maintain the authority records for all form subdivisions," and that the Library of Congress would merely "modify [authority records that use $v subfields as part of a controlled string] to give alternate instructions" rather than completely alter them. 

The Working Group recommends that anyone concerned about these proposals email listco...@loc.gov by Monday, July 20, 2026 with opposition to the changes.

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And a friendly reminder that those concerned about ongoing developments are welcome to sign the Open letter about further alterations to Library of Congress Subject Headings and/or Open letter about the LCSH modernization discussion group, and if desired endorse the recommendations in the Working Group's report, through the July 31, 2026 deadline (after which the Group will cease activities).

The signing form can be found here: https://forms.gle/9Q5b5Vc57jTqMjw76 

Thanks for considering emailing, signing, and/or endorsing, and making your voice heard!

Sincerely,

Deborah Tomaras, Working Group chair

Deborah Tomaras (she/her)

Metadata and Resource Management Librarian 

James A. Cannavino Library, Marist University

3399 North Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Deborah...@marist.edu