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Note on Filing Rules and relationship symbols.

Filing arrangement is strictly alphabetical by word.
Initialisms and acronyms are treated as full words, regardless of whether or not they contain punctuation. Articles are disregarded in filing only when in first place e.g. The gay mystique files under G, as if it were Gay mystique but GAYS IN THE ARTS files after GAYS IN FILM.

When filing identical headings file the subject first, then the author then the title, series etc. In headings for corpOrate bodies and their divisions file the divisions after the main body. When geographic heading subdivisions are used file in the following manner:—

GAY MEN
GAY MEN — CALIFORNIA
GAY MEN — UNITED STATES
GAY MEN — PERIODICALS
GAY MEN — PERIODICALS — CALIFORNIA
GAY MEN — PERIODICALS — UNITED STATES
GAY MEN — SOCIOLOGY — CALIFORNIA
GAY MEN — SOCIOLOGY — UNITED KINGDOM

i.e. plain term first
then plain term + geographic subdivision
then plain term + standard subdivision
then plain term + standard subdivision + geographic subdivision

In the Thesaurus:-

USE is followed by valid terms (in upper case).
BT is followed by broader terms which are valid alternatives.
NT is followed by narrower terms which are valid alternatives.
RT is followed by related terms which are valid alternatives.
SN is followed by a scope note (definition) on the way the term is to be applied.
VALID headings are given in upper case type.
Synonyms are given in lower case type.

* before the term means that it has been used in the catalogue.
# means that a scope note is to be devised.
\ means that the term is wrong and is to be corrected.

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