RBMS Controlled Vocabularies

Controlled Vocabularies for Use in Rare Book and Special Collections Cataloging

The RBMS Controlled Vocabularies Editorial Group has suspended accepting submissions of new terms for its six thesauri. The Editorial Group is in the process of integrating the thesauri into a new, integrated vocabulary that will be released as linked open data. Once the new RBMS vocabulary has been published, the Editorial Group will begin accepting submissions of terms for this resource.

This does not apply to the relationship designators. They will remain a separate resource and will also be published as linked open data.

Welcome to the Controlled Vocabularies for Use in Rare Book and Special Collections Cataloging, developed and maintained by the Bibliographic Standards Committee of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (ACRL/ALA). These thesauri provide standardized vocabulary for retrieving special collections materials by form, genre, or by various physical characteristics that are typically of interest to researchers and special collections librarians, and for relating materials to individuals or corporate bodies.

For information about the scope, application, and historical development of a thesaurus, please consult the digitized introductions to each text. All terms from the original print versions, as well as additions and changes since publication, are integrated into the databases below. We appreciate your patience as we improve the design and functionality of these databases, and welcome your comments.

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