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Search LC Names and Subjects History

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Find out how to access and use the Search LC Names and Subjects History window in Connexion client.

Purpose of the Search LC Names and Subjects History window

  • Search the LC authority history file for:
    • All previous, now superseded, versions of authority records distributed by the Library of Congress (LC)
    • Copies of all authority records in the LC distribution cycle
    • Name authority records deleted by OCLC quality control staff
  • Use the command line to enter a complete search or browse string, using full syntax.

    For a browse string, precede with the Scan (sca) command. For searches, type and, or, or not to combine terms.
  • Use the keyword/numeric search area to construct a guided search by selecting search components without having to type full search syntax.
     Note: To enter a guided browse (index scan), use Authorities > Browse > LC Names and Subjects History.
  • Show or hide "See" and "See also" references.

Access the Search LC Names and Subjects History window

  1. Navigate to Authorities > Search > LC Names and Subjects History or press <Alt><U><S><H>.
    • If you are logged on to OCLC Connexion, the Search LC Names and Subjects History window opens immediately.
    • If you are not already logged on, the Logon OCLC Connexion window opens. As soon as you complete the logon and close the Welcome window, the Search LC Names and Subjects History window opens automatically.
  2. Enter a command line search (full syntax search string).
    Or
    Enter a guided search (provide search term(s), select index(es), and let the system put the search together.
    See details in the table below.
  3. (Optional) Select a check box to show "See" and/or "See also" references in records.
  4. Click OK to send the search.

See more about how to search or browse the LC authority history file.

 Note: The simplest way to locate any authority history records associated with a displayed distributed authority record is to launch an automatic search for the same OCLC ARN in the authority history file using Authorities > Show > LC Superseded Versions or to locate a distributed record from an open history record using Authorities > Show > LC Distributed Version.

Search LC Names and Subjects History window: Features and buttons

Feature How to use
Command Line Search field For experienced searchers. Enter any kind of search.

Enter an entire search string in correct order. Include index labels, punctuation, operators, and qualifiers (if needed).
Or
Enter an entire browse string preceded by the Scan command (sca).
Or
Select a previous search or browse string from lists of up to ten previous search or browse strings.

See lists of authority history file search and browse indexes.
Keyword/Numeric Search area
Search for ... in
text fields and index lists		 For searchers who do not want to remember index labels, order of search components, etc.:
  1. In a text field, enter a search and select an index from the adjacent list.
  2. (Optional) Enter up to two more searches in other text fields and select a different index for each.

    Combine multiple search terms by selecting Boolean operator(s) AND, OR, or NOT from the lists preceding text boxes.

Or

Select a previous search term from the drop-down list of up to ten previous terms.

You can use the following word indexes:
  • Heading Word (me:) 
  • LCCN Word (ln:) 
  • OCLC ARN (an:) 
  • Status (ahs:) (use only as a qualifier, combined with a search in another index; do not use alone) 
AND/OR/NOT lists Select Boolean operators to indicate how you want to combine multiple searches in different indexes:
  • AND - Finds records that contain both terms in the same record.
  • OR - Finds records that contain either term.
  • NOT - Finds records that contain the first term but not the second term.
Show See References in Results check box

and

Show See Also References in Results check box		 Click to deselect or select the options to show or hide "See" and "See also" references in records. Check marks indicate that the options are selected.
Retain Search check box Select or deselect the option to keep the most recent search(es) in the Search for box(es) between logon sessions.

If you retain the last search(es), the client keeps search terms, indexes, and Boolean operators.

A check mark indicates that the option is selected.

 

Button name Click the button to...
OK Send the search (or press <Enter>).
Cancel Cancel the search and close the window.
Enter Diacritics Open the Enter Diacritics and Special Characters window to enter a diacritic or character in a search term.
Clear Search Clear search terms. The client keeps the last Boolean operators and indexes you used.