Vocabularies

Add prebuilt vocabularies to Vernon CMS

The data in some fields are structured and predictable and can generally be reduced to an accepted vocabulary. These carefully constructed lists of terminology are used in cataloguing to ensure consistency and to assist with searching. Vernon Systems works with a variety of different vocabulary lists, and more can be added on demand. Some of these are developed by organisations that require a licence to be purchased before the terminology can be used in the system.

Art and Architecture Thesaurus

The Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) contains structured terminology for art, architecture, decorative arts, archival materials, visual surrogates, conservation, and bibliographic materials. Compliant with international standards, the vocabulary provides authoritative information for catalogers, researchers, and data providers.

The AAT may be purchased from Vernon Systems as an add-on thesaurus.

Linnaean classification system

Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorise extinct and living species of organisms. Modern classification has its roots in the system of Carolus Linnaeus, who grouped species according to shared physical characteristics. The top levels (around 100 terms) of this complex structure are available for Vernon clients. Read more about the Linnaean Classification System.

A full list of bird species (10,000 terms) is also available. Please contact Vernon Systems if you are interested.

New Zealand Geographic Places

A full list of all named geographical features in New Zealand is able to be converted. This includes features such as hills and streams. Please contact Vernon Systems for more information.

Chenhall’s Revised Nomenclature

Nomenclature version 4 for museum cataloguing is a significantly revised and expanded version (16,000 terms) of Robert G. Chenhall’s original American system for classifying man-made objects. Read more about Chenhall’s Revised Nomenclature.

Revised Nomenclature can be purchased from Vernon Systems as a standard add-on thesaurus.

SHIC – Social History and Industry Classifications

The Social History and Industrial Classification (SHIC) is designed to make links between a wide variety of museum material – objects, photographs, archival material, tape recordings, information files – according to the sphere of human activity with which they are primarily associated. The aim of the Classification is to make relationships between objects, etc. via their context.

Subjects of New Zealand

The Subjects of New Zealand term list has a simple hierarchy covering general concepts and New Zealand specific terms. Terms can be created in Vernon CMS using the vocabulary as a reference, with terms created from the top downwards as required.

Taonga Māori Thesaurus

Developed by the Hawkes Bay Cultural Trust. This is a list of classifications for Māori man-made objects, giving the Māori name and the English common name.

This is available in electronic form from Vernon Systems. Contact us to have it added to your copy of Vernon CMS or eHive. Permission for each new site must be gained from the Hawkes Bay Cultural Trust.

Ngā Upoko Tukutuku

The National Library of New Zealand have developed a list of standardised Ngā Upoko Tukutuku /Māori subject headings to use when you are cataloguing and describing relevant material. The Ngā Upoko Tukutuku subject headings are available as a standard add-on thesaurus for a small cost which covers our work migrating the thesaurus into Vernon CMS.

Find out more about Ngā Upoko Tukutuku on the National Library website.