📌 Library of Congress – Subject Cataloging Update (Effective Feb 2, 2026)
🎯 What’s Changing?
LC will no longer add form subdivisions ($v) to the end of subject heading strings.
➡️ Instead, subject form concepts will be expressed using LC Genre/Form Terms (LCGFT).
🗓 Effective Date
February 2, 2026
📘 Why This Change?
✔ Simplify Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH & CYAC) cataloging
✔ Support BIBFRAME & linked data environments
✔ Facilitate the use of URIs for subject authority records
✔ Improve clarity and consistency in cataloging practice
🔍 Key Practice Change
Old method:
Use form subdivision ($v) at the end of subject strings
Example: Human rights workers $v Diaries
New method:
Keep subject term clean
Add separate Genre/Form Term (LCGFT) entry
Example:
Human rights workers (subject)
Diaries (genre/form) (LCGFT)
📈 Benefits
⭐ Shorter, clearer subject headings
⭐ Better alignment with faceted vocabularies
⭐ Easier linked data integration
⭐ More robust machine processing
🧠 Notes
❗ LC will not retroactively convert records already cataloged using $v.
❗ Institutions are not required to follow this practice—they can choose based on their workflows.
📌 Library of Congress – Subject Cataloging Change (LCGFT & Form Subdivisions FAQ)
📅 Effective Date
February 2, 2026
(The change in practice begins)
💡 What’s New?
LC will omit form subdivisions ($v) in Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and use LC Genre/Form Terms (LCGFT) instead.
📦 Scope of Change
✔ Applies to new LC records cataloged via the BIBFRAME editor Marva.
✔ Includes rare materials & CYAC subject strings using LCGFT.
🚫 Not Retroactive
Existing records are not automatically converted.
🧰 Process
The change will occur via automated updates + human review when cataloging in Marva.
🔍 Impact on Catalogs & OPAC
• Form info will shift to separate genre/form filters.
• OPAC users will need to use genre/form as a filter when searching.
📌 Authority Records & Terms
✔ LC will continue to maintain authority records for $v subdivisions.
✔ No new proposals will be accepted for form subdivisions; proposals will only be for LCGFT.
🧠 Ongoing Work
LC is reviewing existing $v terms and proposing new LCGFT equivalents to replace them.
🧩 Audience & Other Data
Audience aspects from old form subdivisions may be recorded via LC Demographic Group Terms (LCDGT) instead of $v.
Form subdivisions should no longer be added to subject headings in either format. In MARC, add an appropriate LCGFT term to 655, and LCDGT term to 385 as needed. In BIBFRAME, choose an appropriate genre/form from LCGFT and choose an appropriate LCDGT term to indicate Intended Audience as needed.
PTCP has updated related SHM instructions and will continue to address $v subfield information and examples.
Expect to see the following changes in the BIBFRAME/Marva environment:
- The
form subdivisions will be automatically removed from the ends of subject
headings of records imported from FOLIO to Marva and the BIBFRAME
database. PTCP has mapped an existing form subdivision to its
appropriate LCGFT, and in some cases also an LCDGT term for Intended
Audience. For example, the form subdivision “Maps for children” will
be removed from the end of a subject heading and added as the GenreForm
term “Children’s maps” to the BIBFRAME description. “Children” will
be added as the Intended Audience.
Note that this does not mean that the
mapping is correct or best. Please evaluate the conversion output according to
the LCGFT Manual.
- Even
if there is no automatically added LCGFT, evaluate your
resource to see if LCGFT is needed.
- Some
existing form subdivisions may require special consideration when removed
from their subject and added as a standalone GenreForm; they will be
checked during “Validation.” A guidance message will be displayed.
- The
ability to add form subdivisions to subject headings will not be possible.
- If
a form subdivision isn't established at LCGFT, please put it as literal
value in the BIBFRAME Genre/Form element. The system will accept the data
and convert it to 655 $a with 2nd indicator 4.
What is Library of Congress Genre Form Terms (LCGFT)
Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms for Library and Archival Materials is a stand-alone vocabulary that may be used in conjunction with any subject heading system and descriptive cataloging code. It was initially part of LCSH, but was formally separated from it in May 2011. LCGFT diverges significantly from LCSH in its scope as well as in the format and application of its terms, but it does retain a fundamental characteristic of LCSH: literary warrant. New genre/form terms, or revisions to existing terms, may be proposed as needed for new cataloging, and are based on information provided in the resources being cataloged as well as on research.
LCGFT should be used with the Genre/Form Terms Manual, which contains instructions that are essential for those who wish to understand and apply Library of Congress genre/form terms correctly.
The instruction sheets comprising the Manual may be freely downloaded from LC’s web site at https://www.loc.gov/aba/publications/FreeLCGFT/freelcgft.html.
When Should we Use LCGFT Library of Congress Genre Form Terms in Cataloging
- Genre/Form Identification: Apply terms that describe the intellectual or artistic form of a work (e.g., Detective and mystery fiction, Sound recordings, Maps).
- 655 Field Usage: Use in the 655 field with the second indicator set to (followed by ) or (if established in LCSH).
- Specific Formats: Apply when cataloging moving images, sound recordings, music, law materials, cartographic materials, literature, religious materials, and general forms like dictionaries.
- Replacing Subdivisions: As of Feb 2, 2026, LC is transitioning away from using form subdivisions ($v) in 650 fields and instead using LCGFT in the 655 field.
- Special Collections: Use LCGFT as the default alongside specialized vocabularies like RBMS for rare materials.
- Consult the Manual: Always use the LC Genre/Form Terms Manual for specific instructions, which are available on the Library of Congress website.
- Do Not Use for Physical Format: Generally, LCGFT covers the intellectual content's form, not the physical carrier (e.g., use "Television programs" for a DVD, not "DVDs").
- Authority Control: Check that the term is authorized in the LCGFT vocabulary list.
Answer to a Question for Genre/Form Subdivisions for Dictionaries and Translation into English
At this point, form subdivisions that are not the final element in a subject string are being retained. So $a Telugu language $v Dictionaries $x Hindi is a valid string for a LC catalog record. If you are using Marva to catalog, then you should see this when the record is converted to MARC.
For your second question, yes, using ‘Translations into English’ as a literal term in field 655 4 in the bibliographic record is the correct practice.
See Also:
- Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
- BIBFRAME (Bibliographic Framework)
- Cataloging
- Subject Cataloging
References:
1. Announcement: LC to Expand use of LCGFT and Implement Subject Heading Cataloging Simplification
2. FAQ on omission of $v subfield in LCSH and expanded use of LCGFT
 and Implement Subject Heading (LCSH and CYAC—Children & Young Adult) Cataloging Simplification){kind=link}