FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology)
FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology) is an enumerative, faceted subject
heading schema derived from the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). The purpose
of adapting the LCSH with a simplified syntax to create FAST is to retain the very rich
vocabulary of LCSH while making the schema easier to understand, control, apply, and use.
The schema maintains upward compatibility with LCSH, and any valid set of LC subject
headings can be converted to FAST headings.
FAST Linked Data
Linked Data is one of the underpinnings of the
Semantic Web
,
the effort to make the meaning of information on the Web more understandable to
computers. These Linked Data authorities are formatted using
schema.org
and
SKOS (Simple Knowledge Organization System).
The FAST Authority file contains links to LCSH Authorities as will as other authoritative sources such as
VIAF
,
GeoNames
, and
Wikipedia
. We will continue to
add other links where possible.
A profile of N-Triple predicates and external links is available at
FAST Link Data N-Triples Statistics
The use of the FAST authorities is open and FAST is made available under an
Open Data Commons Attribution (ODC-By) License
.
It is also available for download under this license at
https://www.oclc.org/research/themes/data-science/fast/download.html.
OCLC will update FAST periodically, at least twice yearly.
FAST Linked Data API
The SRW/SRU API to access the FAST Linked Data is described at the OCLC Developers Network
https://www.oclc.org/developer/develop/web-services/fast-api/linked-data.en.html
.