Subject Headings List for Filipino Cultural Literature and Studies: The Case of an Academic Library

The study aimed to determine the status, describe the importance, and identify the challenges encountered by catalogers, specifically on the subject authority files for Filipino cultural literature and studies at the University of Baguio (UB) Libraries. The study used a quantitative method to determine the status, importance, and challenges on the subject authority files using a researcher-made questionnaire and a qualitative method to analyze the existing subject headings used in the OPAC to reflect the local subject headings. The catalogers validated the use of local terms as subject headings through an interview. The primary respondents were the 13 librarians of the UB Libraries who were performing cataloging tasks. The study found that: 1) the status on the availability of subject heading tools, presence of guidelines, and provisions for subject authority files for Filipino cultural literature and studies at the UB Libraries were necessary for the effective and efficient access of local library resources; 2) subject authority files for Filipino cultural literature and studies were vital in the Cataloging Section; and 3) the primary challenges encountered by the catalogers were the availability of subject heading tools including thesaurus and a network or consortia among libraries primarily to formulate acceptable terms for use in cultural literature and studies in the workplace. The proposed prototype subject heading lists should be adopted to effectively and efficiently access UB library materials