Controlled Vocabularies and Taxonomies

Many metadata projects require more specialized vocabularies than Library of Congress Subject Headings alone can provide. Learn the fundamentals of taxonomy design and controlled vocabulary development to support improved resource description and discovery. Topics include types of controlled vocabularies, taxonomy planning and design, relationships and structure within taxonomies, and strategies for long-term taxonomy management and maintenance.

Scheduled Dates

December 2, 2026, 10:00am – December 3, 2026, 12:00pm

Registration closes Nov 30, 2026 8:30am CT

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Learning objectives for this session may include:
  • Understand why a specialized vocabulary and/or taxonomy would be needed
  • Identify the different types of controlled vocabularies
  • Learn the steps involved in taxonomy development and maintenance
Topic Area
Session Duration
This course consists of two 2-hour sessions.
Contact Hours
4

Instructor(s)

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Amanda Sprochi portrait

Amanda Sprochi is a cataloger of all things rare, digital, and print at the University of Missouri in Columbia. She's served as the Medical Library Association's representative (6 years) to the American Library Association's Committee on Cataloging: Description and Access, was a member of the RSC+ Committee working on the RDA 3R Project, and chaired the Fictitious Entities Working Group. She teaches cataloging courses at the Mizzou School of Information Science & Learning Technologies and was honored with a 2024 CORE Presidential Citation for her work as chair of ALA's Committee on Cataloging: Description and Access.