Document sections
Introduction
The following points — primarily intended for copy cataloguers — are a selection of
explanations of patterns that are frequently observed in Library of Congress Subject Heading
(LCSH) strings and answers to questions that often come up when working with LCSH
subdivisions. They do not represent a systematic presentation of LCSH policy, nor
do they anticipate any future changes in LCSH policies or practise.
For more comprehensive explanations, see LC’s own publication, Subject Cataloging
Manual: Subject Headings, H1075-H2400.
For the most current information on a given subdivision, see Subject Cataloging
Manual: Subject Headings and the LC subject authority file.
For additional general background, see also our document “Introduction to Library of Congress Subject Headings” and the
Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings.
Topical subdivisions ($x)
- Application:
Topical subdivisions are used under all types of subject headings — personal, corporate, family, and geographic
names, uniform titles, and topical headings — to represent a particular subtopic and narrow down the broader
subject. A topical subdivision may represent a concept, attribute, aspect, action or process, methodology or
technique, a part of the whole, or another category of term. Some examples include:
- E.g. $x Philosophy [concept]
- $x Density [attribute, under types of chemicals]
- $x Psychological aspects [aspect]
- $x Employee participation [action or process]
- $x Aging [action or process]
- $x Statistical methods [methodology]
- $x Respiratory organs [part of the whole, under types of animals]
- $x Museums [part of the whole, under names of corporate bodies]
- Many of these subdivisions are listed in the lists of free-floating subdivisions located in the Subject
Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings, sections H1095-H1200, together with scope notes indicating when
they are applicable. Freefloating subdivisions can also be searched in the LC/SACO authority file;
authority records for freefloating subdivisions include instructions for their appropriate use.
For examples of some frequently used free-floating subdivisions, see
section 5 below, “Some common subdivisions.”
- Some topical subdivisions, on the other hand, are specifically authorised for use only with certain headings;
individual authority records are provided for such main-heading-plus-subdivision subject heading strings.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Theaters $x Stage-setting and scenery.
- Order: Many topical subdivisions follow
geographic subdivisions in the same subject heading string. However, a fair
number of topical subdivisions precede geographic subdivisions.
Examples of the latter category, which are indicated in the free-floating subdivision lists
followed by “(May Subd Geog),” include:
- E.g. $x Employment (May Subd Geog)
- $x Government policy (May Subd Geog)
- $x Social aspects (May Subd Geog)
- E.g. 650 0 $a Women $z Argentina $x Economic conditions.
- but
- 650 0 $a Women $x Employment $z Argentina.
Since 1991, an increasing number of subdivisions have been switched to the pattern of preceding geographic
subdivisions. (See also Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings, section H860.)
While there do not appear to be any clearcut criteria for determining which subdivisions belong
in this category, you will probably become familiar with several of them as you use them.
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Form subdivisions ($v)
- Application: Form subdivisions indicate the nature of the material rather than something about
its content; in other words, they indicate what a work is, not what it is about.
Examples include:
- E.g. $v Bibliography
- $v Catalogs
- $v Dictionaries
- $v Early works to 1800
- [considered to be a form subdivision, not a chronological
one, because the approach to the subject matter may not be chronologically based]
- $v Exhibitions
- $v Periodicals
- $v Textbooks
A problem: Some subdivisions that might be considered to represent the nature of a work are actually used
in LCSH as topical subdivisions. Major examples of these sometimes confusing subdivisions include:
- $x Research:
- Should be used for works about research on a given topic, not for examples of
that research.
- $x Study and teaching:
- Should be used for works about teaching or how to teach in a
given subject area — such as pedadogical guides or evaluations of education — not for texts that teach that subject.
Also, a subdivision that often functions as a form subdivision may be applied and coded as a $x topical
subdivision when a work is about a particular form of publication.
- E.g. A history of [about] magazines about camels as an artistic theme:
- 650 0 $a Camels in art $x Periodicals $x History.
- E.g. A bibliography of speleology textbooks:
- 650 0 $a Speleology $x Textbooks $v Bibliography.
- Order: Form subdivisions are nearly always placed at the end of a subject heading string.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Art, Tanzanian $z Tanzania $z Zanzibar $v Catalogs.
- 650 0 $a Beach erosion $z Florida $z Pensacola Beach $x History
$y 20th century $v Bibliography.
Exceptions occur when a work is about a particular form of publication and when more than one form
subdivision is applicable.
- E.g. A history of magazines about camels as an artistic theme:
- 650 0 $a Camels in art $x Periodicals $x History.
- A periodically issued bibliography of Russian dictionaries:
- 650 0 $a Russian language $x Dictionaries $v Bibliography $v Periodicals.
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Chronological subdivisions ($y)
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Geographic subdivisions ($z)
- Application: Geographic subdivisions may be used under topical subject headings and
following topical subdivisions when they are specifically authorised, as indicated by:
- Subject authority record in OCLC: The fixed field element “Geo subd” code “i”
- Subject authority record in Voyager: The fixed field element “Subdivision” code “i”
- Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings: The phrase “(May Subd Geog)”
following a subdivision.
- The “red books” (printed LCSH list): The phrase “(May Subd Geog)” following a subject heading.
- E.g. Heading in subject authority record in OCLC: 150 Beach erosion
- Geo subd code: i
- Therefore:
- 650 0 $a Beach erosion $z Florida $z Pensacola Beach
- is valid.
- E.g. Heading in subject authority record in Voyager: 150 Science, Ancient
- Subdivision code: [blank]
- Therefore:
- 650 0 $a Science, Ancient $z Greece $z Athens
- would not be valid. “Science, Ancient” should not be subdivided geographically.
- E.g. Freefloating subdivision in the Subject Cataloging Manual: $x Government policy (May Subd Geog)
- Therefore:
- 650 0 $a Wetland conservation $x Government policy $z Poland
- is valid.
- Order: Geographical subdivisions precede many topical subdivisions in the same subject
heading string. However, a fair number of topical subdivisions precede geographic subdivisions.
(Cf. "Topical subdivisions: Order” above.)
For the structure of indirect geographic subdivision, when more than one geographic level is involved, consult
“Geographic Headings and Subdivisions: a Summary of Contrasting Structures” or the Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings,
sections H830-H836.
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Some common subdivisions
The subdivisions listed here correspond to those listed in the
“Full-Level OCLC-Member Editing Guidelines
(Books Format)” as ones that should be added to existing headings when applicable.
With each one, a brief scope note is included, along with:
- Any “H” number of the Subject Cataloging Manual section that gives more information about the use of
the subdivision
- The corresponding “sh” subject authority record number, either for the subdivision itself or for the closest
equivalent subject heading, where information about the subdivision is included.
For additional free-floating subdivisions, see the Subject Cataloging Manual, sections H1095-H1200.
- $v Bibliography (H 1205; H 1322; H 1325; H 1670)
sh 99001362 or sh 85013838
- Use under subjects of all types. Used for lists of works about a subject; when used under a
person’s name, it may apply to lists of works by or about the person.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Sociology $v Bibliography.
- 651 0 $a Guatemala $x History $y 1985- $v Bibliography.
- 600 10 $a Camus, Albert, $d 1913-1960 $v Bibliography.
- $v Biography (H 1330; H 1720; H 1845)
sh 99001237 or sh 85014152
- Use under corporate and geographic name headings and under classes of persons, ethnic groups,
individual and groups of animals, historic events, and uniform titles of sacred works. The most common
uses are following headings for classes of persons and places.
Used for individual or collective biography.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Presidents $z France $v Biography.
- 610 20 $a Bear Paw Development Corporation $v Biography.
- 650 0 $a Potters $z Zambia $z Kafue River Valley $v Biography.
- 650 0 $a Jews $z Poland $z Warsaw $v Biography.
- 630 00 $a Bhagavadg¯it¯a $v Biography.
- 651 0 $a Mexico $v Biography.
- 651 0 Edinburgh (Scotland) $v Biography.
Strictly speaking, the subdivision “Biography” should only be used when more than half (50%) of a work deals
with the personal aspects of a person’s life, as opposed to discussion of her or his career or works.
However, this restriction is not applied to historical figures, and in practise this subdivision is often used
(even by LC) more generally for works about an individual.
Currently, the subdivision “Biography” should not be used following name headings of individual
people. (You will see many older records for biographies of literary authors that use “Biography,”
however.)
- $x Criticism and interpretation sh 99005576
-
Use this subdivision only under persons active in the fine arts, literature, music, and performing arts; most
commonly seen under headings for names of literary authors.
Use for works at least 80% of which consist of critical analysis or interpretation of the person's literary or
artistic works or endeavors, without more than 20% dealing with biographical details.
- E.g. 600 10 $a Camus, Albert, $d 1913-1960 $x Criticism and interpretation.
- 600 00 $a Leonardo, $c da Vinci, $d 1452-1519 $x Criticism and interpretation.
- 600 10 $a Olivier, Laurence, $d 1907-1989 $x Criticism and interpretation.
Note that “Criticism and interpretation” is considered to be a topical ($x) subdivision, not a form ($v) subdivision.
- $x Description and travel (H1530)
sh 99001278
-
Use under geographic headings for general descriptive works and travel accounts about that place.
Chronological subdivisions are no longer valid under “Description and travel,” although for early travel accounts
the form subdivision “$v Early works to 1800" may apply.
- E.g. 651 0 $a Belize $x Description and travel.
- 651 0 $a Mediterranean Region $x Description and travel
$v Early works to 1800.
“Description and travel” should not be used under headings for extinct cities, parks, or Indian reservations.
- E.g. 651 0 $a Yosemite National Park (Calif.)
- 651 0 $a Pompeii (Extinct city)
If the work contains an extensive amount of practical travel-related advice, use
“$v Guidebooks.”
- $v Dictionaries (H 1540)
sh 99001671 or sh 85042997
- Use under subjects of all types. Under language headings, use "$v Dictionaries" for
comprehensive alphabetical lists of words in those languages. If the dictionary is bilingual, a final
$x subdivision should be added listing the other language, and paired headings may be needed if words in
each language are defined in terms of the other.
- E.g. 650 0 $a German language $v Dictionaries $x English.
- 650 0 $a English language $v Dictionaries $x German.
“Dictionaries” can also be used under topical headings for comprehensive alphabetical listings
of terms used in connection with that field or other topic. It should be followed by
“$x <language>” if the language is not English.
E.g. 650 0 $a Sociology $v Dictionaries $x French.
If the work includes articles on a topic or topics, use "$v Encyclopedias.”
- $v Directories (H 1558)
sh 99001609 or sh 85038267
- Use under corporate, geographic, and family name headings and under classes of persons, ethnic groups,
Christian denominations, types of organizations, and general topical headings for alphabetical or classified
lists containing names, addresses, and other identifying data.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Engineers $z Monaco $v Directories.
- 650 0 $a Mexican Americans $z New Mexico $z Albuquerque $v Directories.
- 651 0 $a Ann Arbor (Mich.) $x Officials and employees $v Directories.
- 610 20 $a Tulane University $v Directories.
- $v Drama (H 1780)
sh 99001612 or sh 85039316
- Use under personal, corporate, family, and geographic name headings and under classes of persons,
ethnic groups, and general topical headings for plays or musical dramatic works on those subjects.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Agincourt, Battle of, Agincourt, France, 1415 $v Drama.
- 650 0 $a Mexican Americans $z New Mexico $z Albuquerque $v Drama.
- 600 00 $a Leonardo, $c da Vinci, $d 1452-1519 $v Drama.
- 651 0 $a France $x History $y Revolution, 1789-1799 $v Drama.
- $v Encyclopedias (H 1540)
sh 99001614 or sh 85042997
- Use under subjects of all types.
Use for works consisting of explanatory articles arranged alphabetically or topically. (Note that
works of this type are sometimes called “dictionaries.”)
- E.g. 650 0 $a Sociology $v Encyclopedias.
- 600 00 $a Homer $v Encyclopedias.
- 651 0 $a France $x History $y Revolution, 1789-1799 $v Encyclopedias.
- $v Fiction (H 1720; H 1790)
sh 99001562 or sh 85048050
- Use under personal, corporate, family, and geographic name headings and under classes of persons,
ethnic groups, and general topical headings for collections of stories or novels on those topics.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Truffles $z Italy $v Fiction.
- 610 20 $a Microsoft Corporation $v Fiction.
- 651 0 $a Buenos Aires (Argentina) $v Fiction.
- 650 0 $a Musicians $z Louisiana $z New Orleans $v Fiction.
Also use under names of individual persons and historic events for individual works of biographical or
historical fiction, and under animals for individual stories about animals.
- E.g. 600 00 $a Eleanor, $c of Aquitaine, Queen, consort of Henry II,
King of England, $d 1122?-1204 $v Fiction.
- 651 0 $a France $x History $y Revolution, 1789-1799 $v Fiction.
- 650 0 $a Dolphins $z Mexico, Gulf of $v Fiction.
- $v Guidebooks (H 1645)
sh 99001297 or sh 85057716
- Use under corporate and geographic name headings and topical headings.
The subdivision “Guidebooks” should be used for handbooks with practical travel-related advice, “how to get
there and what to see and do” information. For narrative, more descriptive travel accounts, use
“Description and travel.”
- E.g. 651 0 $a Switzerland $v Guidebooks.
- 651 0 $a London (England) $v Guidebooks.
- 651 0 $a Yosemite National Park (Calif.) $v Guidebooks.
- 650 0 $a Historic buildings $z Italy $z Florence $v Guidebooks.
Note that:
- “Guidebooks” is currently used immediately under the heading for a place, without an intervening
“Description and travel” (although you may see older records with heading strings that include both subdivisions).
- “Guidebooks” is a one-word term, without a hyphen (although you may see it in older records spelled
with a hyphen or as two words).
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- $x History (H 1647; H 1845)
sh 99005024 or sh 85061212
- Use under corporate and geographic name headings, under uniform titles of sacred works, and under
classes of persons, ethnic groups, and topical headings.
The subdivision “History” should be used for descriptions and explanations of past events connected with
a non-literary or non-artistic subject. The description may continue up to the present time, provided
that some chronological depth is present.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Photography $z England $z Bath $x History.
- 650 0 $a Women $z Indonesia $x History.
- 610 20 $a Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México $x History.
Under geographic headings, “History” is used for fairly general accounts of the past; for works dealing with
a particular aspect of the past, a different, more specific subdivision may be more appropriate, such
as “Economic conditions,” “Politics and government,” or “Social conditions.”
- E.g. Title: London through the ages.
- 651 0 $a London (England) $x History.
- Title: The economic development of London since 1600.
- 651 0 $a London (England) $x Economic conditions.
Note that "History" is considered to be a topical ($x) subdivision, not a form ($v) subdivision.
There are certain headings and subdivisions that are not followed by “History,” because they are considered to
be inherently historical (or inherently potentially historical). Examples include:
- E.g. 650 0 $a Renaissance.
- 650 0 $a Glass blowing and working $z Rome. ["Rome" by itself represents the ancient republic and empire]
and the subdivisions “Politics and government” and “Social conditions”:
- E.g. 651 0 $a Cuba $x Social conditions.
- 651 0 $a Guatemala $x Politics and government $y 1985-
For a complete list, consult "Subdivisions Not Further Subdivided by $x History,” taken from the
Subject Cataloging Manual, H1647, section 9.
For historical treatment of literatures, music, and film (with certain film headings), use the literary subdivision
“$x History and criticism.”
- $x History $y <16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, or 21st> century (H1647)
- Use under corporate body headings and under classes of persons, ethnic groups, military services, Christian denominations, and topical headings;
use for historical works limited to a given period that falls largely within a century.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Shipping $z Turkey $z Istanbul $x History
$y 17th century.
- 650 0 $a Political science $x History $y 20th century.
- 610 20 $a University of Oxford $x History $y 19th century.
Use cautiously under geographic headings, provided that no conflicting established chronological
subdivision exists. Check the LC subject authority file first for any established subdivision.
- E.g. 651 0 $a Baton Rouge (La.) $x History $y 20th century.
- 651 0 $a Alps, Bavarian (Germany) $x History $y 18th century.
Please note that the heading for a topic with a history only extending for the period covered by the
work or for a specific century does not need chronological subdivision.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Motion pictures $x History.
- [Book covers 20th-century beginnings to date; ”Motion pictures $x History $y 20th century” and
”Motion pictures $x History $y 21st century” would not be necessary.]
- 650 0 $a Blogs $z Portugal $z Sintra Mountains Region $x History.
- ["$y 21st century" would not be a useful addition to a heading string about an essentially 21st-century phenomenon.]
- $x History $y To 1500 (H1647) sh2002006121
- Use under topical headings for works that cover the ancient and/or mediaeval periods.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Bee culture $z Italy $z Umbria $x History $y To 1500.
$x History and criticism (H 1647)
sh 99001187 or sh 85034149
Use under literary, music, and certain film form headings.
Use for general historical and critical studies of literature or music, which are not limited to a
particular aspect or topic.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Brazilian literature $x History and criticism.
- 650 0 $a French poetry $y 19th century $x History and criticism.
- 650 0 $a Opera $x History and criticism.
The list for the pattern heading “Literatures” (H1156) includes more specific subdivisions that can be
used when applicable.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Brazilian literature $x Themes, motives.
- 650 0 $a Canadian drama $x Shamanistic influences.
Also use "$x History and criticism" with certain film form headings (those with the term "films") for general historical and critical studies of types of film:
- E.g. 650 0 $a Caper films $x History and criticism.
but
- 650 0 $a Motion pictures $x History.
Screenplays are treated like literature:
- 650 0 $a Motion picture plays $x History and criticism.
$x In literature (H 362; H 1780; H 1790; H 1800)
sh 2002011414
Use for discussions of a person, corporate body, or place as a theme in literature, including musical dramatic works
and individual literary genres. In other words, use for critical works about literary works about
the person, body, or place. The subdivision "$x In literature" may also be used under headings for Christian
denominations and uniform titles of sacred works.
- E.g. 600 00 $a Napoleon $b I, $c Emperor of the French,
$d 1769-1821 $x In literature.
- 610 10 $a Great Britain. $b Parliament $x In literature.
- 651 0 $a New Orleans (La.) $x In literature.
- 650 0 $a Methodists $x In literature.
- 630 00 $a Koran $x In literature.
For literary works themselves about the person, body, or place, or in which he, she, or it appears as
a character or key setting, assign the appropriate form subdivision, for example,
"$v Drama," "$v Fiction,"
"$v Literary collections," and "$v Poetry."
$v Indexes (H 1670)
sh 99001477 or sh 85064865
Use under subjects of all types for works that provide a comprehensive subject approach to
printed materials published in a specific field of knowledge.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Political science $v Indexes.
- 651 0 $a South Africa $x History $v Indexes.
Note that, for an index to a bibliography on a topic, you would simply use the heading for the
topic subdivided by “$v Indexes,” without using “Bibliography” between the heading and subdivision.
- E.g. An index to a bibliography of political science periodicals:
- 650 0 $a Political science $x Periodicals $v Indexes.
Also used under personal name headings for an index to the collected published works of an individual author.
- E.g. 600 10 $a Poe, Edgar Allan, $d 1809-1849 $v Indexes.
For a separately published index to a particular work, use “$v Indexes” under the uniform title or
name-uniform title for that work. (The subdivision should not be used for indexes published as part
of a book.)
- E.g. 600 10 $a Faulkner, Raymond Oliver, $d 1894-1982. $t Concise
dictionary of Middle Egyptian $v Indexes.
$v Maps (H 1865)
sh 99001269 or sh 85080858
Use under geographic and corporate name headings and under topical headings for individual
maps or collections of maps. This subdivision can be used if at least 20% of a work
consists of maps, not only for works catalogued or identified as atlases.
- E.g. 651 0 $a Pakistan $v Maps.
- 651 0 $a Crete (Greece) $v Maps.
- 610 20 $a University of Oxford $v Maps.
- 650 0 $a Geology $z Tanzania $v Maps.
$v Poetry (H 1800)
sh 99001678 or sh 850103704
Use under personal, corporate, family, and geographic name headings and under classes of persons,
ethnic groups, and general topical headings for collections of poetry and individual poems on those subjects.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Cats $z New Zealand $v Poetry.
- 651 0 $a Machu Picchu Site (Peru) $v Poetry.
- 650 0 $a Women $z Italy $z Venice $v Poetry.
- 610 20 $a Temple of Poseidon (Ákra Soúnion, Greece) $v Poetry.
$v Songs and music (H 2075)
sh 99001806 or sh 85088762
Use under personal, corporate, and geographic name headings and under classes of persons, ethnic groups,
individual wars, and general topical headings.
This form subdivision can be used for both vocal and instrumental music with a particular theme.
- E.g. 650 0 $a World War, 1914-1918 $v Songs and music.
- 650 0 $a Castles $z Austria $v Songs and music.
- 600 10 $aValentino, Rudolph, $d 1895-1926 $v Songs and music.
- 651 0 $a Paris (France) $v Songs and music.
$v Texts (H 2190)
sh 99001271 or sh 87007621
Use under individual lesser-known languages, language groups, dialects, early periods of languages, headings for
vocal music, and liturgy headings for individual texts or collections of texts.
Also use under the heading strings "<place> $x Languages" and "<ethnic group> $x Languages."
Locally, the subdivision “Texts” is used most frequently for song lyrics and under headings for indigenous
Latin American languages.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Cakchikel language $v Texts.
- 650 0 $a English language $y Old English, ca. 450-1100 $v Texts.
- 650 0 $a Drinking songs $v Texts.
- 610 20 $a Orthodox Eastern Church $x Liturgy $v Texts.
- 651 0 $a Assam (India) $x Languages $v Texts.
- 650 0 $a Yuit Eskimos $x Languages $v Texts.
$v Translations into <language> (H 2220)
sh 99001577 or sh 85136967
Use under literary form headings for collections of translated works. Use for translations of individual
works when a specific literary form heading has been assigned.
- E.g. 650 0 $a Japanese poetry $v Translations into English.
- 650 0 $a Short stories, German $v Translations into Spanish.
- 650 0 $a Fantasy fiction, Danish $v Translations into German.
Use under literary authors for collected translations (not for individual translations of one work).
- E.g. 600 00 $a Ovid, $d 43 B.C.-17 or 18 A.D. $v Translations into English.
Use more cautiously under non-literary headings, only for collections of translations and only if the
primary purpose of the work — as stated or implied by the title — is to provide translated materials.
- E.g. Title: Recent Japanese articles on radiation chemistry : for
English readers:
- 650 0 $a Radiation chemistry
$v Translations into English.
Note that “Translations from <language>” is no longer a valid subdivision (although you may see it in
older records).
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For more information:
For further information on the construction of subject headings, you may consult:
- The Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings. This guide, particularly
written for LC staff, is authoritative, fairly comprehensive, and reasonably up-to-date.
It provides explanations and examples to help clarify the appropriate use of specific
headings and subdivisions as well as general principles and guidelines. It
is now available as part of Cataloger's Desktop.
- The LC/SACO subject authority file. This online authority file, when consulted
in OCLC, is our most up-to-date source, although it includes less information than the
Subject Cataloging Manual. Beginning in 1999, authority records for subdivisions
have been included in the file. It also often includes information under a subject
heading about how its closest equivalent subdivision should be used.
- Voyager subject heading searches. This method is quick and may illustrate a
predominant pattern. However, examples in our bibliographic file are not authoritative, and
headings in our authority and bibliographic records may be obsolete.
- Your trainer.
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Revised draft 20 October 1994; further revised 24, 29 November 1999, 22 August 2006, 4 May 2007
HTML document last reviewed: 6 May 2007