Use of Québec (Province) in Library and Archives Canada’s headings

Effective December 1, 2003, Library and Archives Canada will use only the French form of name for Quebec provincial bodies for the period 1974-.  To harmonize with the Bibliothèque nationale du Québec (IRIS), Bibliothèque de l’Assemblée nationale du Québec (CUBIQ) and the Library of Congress, LAC will only use the form, Québec (Province), for provincial government headings.  This form will be equally valid for use in both English and French catalogues.  For the period prior to 1974, Quebec (Province) will still be used for Quebec government headings in English.  A note will be given on the latest English heading to indicate that as of 1974 only the French form of name will be used and only the French form of name of the government body will be established.  Equivalent headings will no longer be created; if an English form of a subordinate name is found, it will be treated as a variant of the French heading and given as a see-reference, subordinated to Québec (Province) if appropriate.  Previously established government headings not reflecting this policy will be corrected as soon as possible.

Additionally, LAC will only use the form, Québec, as qualifiers to place names, as additions used to distinguish between corporate bodies with the same name, as additions to other corporate names (e.g., church names, conference names), or as additions to uniform titles, regardless of the 1974 date.  This form will be equally valid for use in both English and French catalogues.  As appropriate, the language of the note(s) will be determined by the language of the corporate name or title itself (i.e., if the name or uniform title exclusive of any names or terms used as additions or elements to which the name or title has been subordinated, is in French, the note(s) will be given in French; if the name or title is in English or any language other than French, the note(s) will be given in English).  Previously established headings that include the province of Quebec as an addition will be revised to the one form, Québec, on an as encountered basis.

As is the current practice, any subject heading for which an authority record is required is established according to the LAC policy for creating name authority records.  Therefore, subject headings for Québec will be established in accordance with the decision described above and existing subject headings will be revised on an as encountered basis.

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For further information, contact:

Standards, IMO
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0N4
CANADA
Fax: (819) 934-4388
E-mail: standards@lac-bac.gc.ca