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Right, they are refinements. Sometimes there are even separate indexes in the source database for the various keyword categories.

But one might decide not to maintain all subject refinements for retrieval purposes in mapping to MODS. The original database may have served experts, while the new environment for the data is for general users. In that case, having the displayLabel available for the subject element gives one the option to retain the refinements/distinctions for display purposes only. I'm just representing that need.

Joe

On Mon, Jun 9, 2008 at 10:49 AM, Karen Coyle <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Joe,

This looks to be something more than a display label, however. It seems to refine the subject field to include materials, styles, etc.

kc


Joe Altimus wrote:
I wonder if there is support for defining the displayLabel attribute
for the subject element in MODS?

Some databases have keyword fields in various categorizations. In an
archeology database, for example, a particular database may have
several specific keyword fields: the cultures associated with a
resource, the materials used in artifacts, the sites associated with a
resource, etc.

When mapping such data to MODS subject/topic (or other subject
elements), it would be useful to have displayLabel available to retain
the categorization of the source data. For example:

  <subject displayLabel="artifact material keyword">
     <topic>ceramic</topic>
  </subject>

  <subject displayLabel="artifact decorative style keyword">
     <topic>animal</topic>
  </subject>

  <subject displayLabel="archeological site keyword">
     <geographic>Galaz</geographic>
  </subject>

Joe Altimus
Arizona State University Libraries



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