Special Libraries Association – News Division
Photo Archiving Task Force

KEY WORDS (ENHANCEMENT TERMS)
FOR DIGITAL NEWSPHOTO ARCHIVES

(Basic List)
With Photo Type words | Graphic Type words | Supplemental Category Codes (Associated Press) 

Notes and Overview | Word List (single column format) - Breakdown words | Photo types | Graphic types | Guidelines and Alternatives - Photo Types | Graphic Types | Special Uses, Refinements | Supplemental Categories | Word List (multi-column format) - Key Words | Photo Types | Graphic Types | Photo Breakdowns | Word Groups | Task Force Members

Notes and Overview

October, 1999

Introduction: This basic list of Enhancement Terms for electronic photo archiving has its roots in the Library of Congress Thesaurus for Graphic Materials (1987 edition). A task force from the Special Libraries Association-News Division selected words from that list in 1994. Tribune Company news librarians refined that list, to which other newspapers, most notably the Columbus Dispatch and the Toronto Star and Sun, made additions. Another task force from the S.L.A. News Division considered all these changes and authorized this list, which was accepted by the S.L.A. News Division at its annual meeting in June, 1998.

  1. This basic list of Enhancement Terms assumes that other metadata accompany the photo. Other fields include:

1.1. The Supplemental Category includes competitive sports and other specialized information. The sports in the Enhancement Terms list are recreational. The competitive sports that do not yet have a Supplemental Category designation are marked with an asterisk (*) in the Guideline document that accompanies this list of Enhancement Terms.

1.2. Words in the Photo Types field describe the photo itself or the way it was made.

1.3. Words in the Graphic Types field describe the nature of the graphic file (map, drawing, etc.).

1.4. Since other data fields accompany the photo, the Enhancement Terms (also known as key words) do not by themselves describe the photo. They are not traditional cataloging terms. Enhancement Terms help to narrow the results when a search of words in the other fields produces too many candidates.

2.0. This basic list is designed provide a common starting point for news photo collections. It is expected that individual news archives will add terms that reflect specific interests of their region or news specialties.

3.0. Terms are singular, except where plural is more commonly used. Examples of exceptions:
Cattle, Clouds, Glasses, Leaves, Movies, Rights, Shoes

4.0. All are one-word terms. When two words are necessary, they are truncated. Examples:
Ghosttown, Rollercoaster, Videostill, Weightlifting

4.1. Hyphenated words are used where appropriate. Examples: Full-length, Half-length

5.0. Terms are designed to work in multiples as appropriate to the photo. Examples:

6.0. Personal photo breakdowns – The Enhancement Terms list includes words that help refine a search where there are many photos of a person -- president, dictator, pope, actor, legislative leader, sports figure, etc. The words are:

The words can also be used in other cases where appropriate.

7.0. ``Missing word'' – At times a photo librarian should use an Enhancement Term that is not on the list (hence, a "missing word"). In some cases the word should have been in the caption field but is not; in other cases, the word is strongly suggested by the photo but is not the point of the caption. An experienced photo librarian will know that this photo illustrates a topic that will be requested in the future and that a particular word will be used to describe that topic. That ``missing word'' should be used.

8.0. Enhancement terms can be all-capital letters, caps and lower case, or all lower case, according to the style of each news archive.

9.0. An accompanying document, "Usage Guidelines and Alternatives," suggests specific uses of enhancement terms. Another accompanying document, "Word Groups," suggests related words from which the photo archivist may choose.

SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION – NEWS DIVISION
PHOTO ARCHIVING TASK FORCE

(Basic List)

October, 1999

1. Key Words (Enhancement Terms)


A

ABANDONED AIRCRAFT APARTMENT ATTRACTION
ABUSE AIRPORT APPLIANCE AUCTION
ABORTION ALCOHOL ARCHAEOLOGY AUDIO
ACCESORY ALONE ARCHITECTURE AUTO
ACCIDENT AMUSEMENT ARREST AUTUMN
ADOPTION ANGRY ART AVALANCHE
ADVERTISING ANATOMY ASSASSINATION AWARD
AGRICULTURE ANIMAL ASTRONAUT  
AIDS ANNIVERSARY ASTRONOMY  
AIR ANTIQUE ATHLETE  

B

BABY BEHAVIOR BOATING BULLFIGHTING
BADMINTON BEVERAGE BODY BURGLARY
BALLOON BICYCLE BOMB BUS
BANK BIRD BOOK BUSINESS
BAR BIRTH BOWLING  
BEACH BLACKS BRIDGE  
BEAUTY BOAT BUILDING  

C

CAMPAIGN CENSUS COACH CONVENTION
CAMPING CEREMONY COIN COOKING
CANAL CHARITY COLD COSTUME
CANACER CHEMICAL COLLECTIBLE COURTSHIP
CARE CHILD COLLEGE COWBOYS
CARTOON CHURCH COMMUTING CRAFT
CASINO CIRCUS COMPETING CRIME
CASTLE CITRUS COMPUTER CROWD
CAT CLEANING CONDITIONS CRYING
CATTLE CLENCHING CONSERVATION CURRENCY
CAVE CLINIC CONSTRUCTION CYCLING
CELEBRATION CLOTHING CONTEST  
CEMETERY CLOUDS CONTROL  

D

DAIRY DEATH DESSERT DOLL
DAM DEMOLITION DISASTER DRINKING
DAMAGE DEMONSTRATION DISEASE DRIVING
DANCING DENTISTRY DIVING DROUGHT
DEAF DESERT DOG DRUG

E

EARLY ELDERLY ENERGY EXCITED
EARTHQUAKE ELECTION ENTERTAINER EXECUTION
EATING ELECTRIC ENVIRONMENT EXERCISING
ECLIPSE EMBASSY EQUIPMENT EXPLOSION
ECONOMY EMPLOYMENT ETHNIC EXTINCT
EDUCTAION END EXCAVATION EYE

F

FACTORY FEAR FISHING FRAUD
FAD FESTIVAL FLAG FRUIT
FAIR FIGHTING FLOOD FUEL
FAITH FIRE FLOWER FUNDRAISER
FAMILY FIREFIGHTER FOG FUNERAL
FANS FIREWORKS FOOD FURNITURE
FARM FIRST FOREST  
FASHION FISH FOSSIL  

G

GAMBLING GARDEN GLASSES GRAIN
GAME GEM GOLD GRIEVING
GANG GESTURING GOVERNMENT GRIMACING
GARBAGE GHOSTTOWN GRADUATION GROCERY
GAS GLACIER GRAFFITI GROUP

H

HAIR HEALTH HOMELESS HOUSING
HANDICAPPED HISPANIC HOMOSEXUAL HUNTING
HANDSHAKE HIKING HORSE HUNGER
HAPPY HISTORIC HOSPITAL HURRICANE
HARASSMENT HOLDING HOSTAGE  
HAT HOLIDAY HOT  
HAZARDOUS HOME HOTEL  

I

ICE INAUGURATION INJURY INSTRUMENT
IMMIGRANT INDUSTRY INSECT INVENTION

J

JEWELRY JOGGING JUMPING JUVENILE

K

KAYAKING KISSING KITCHEN KITE
KIDNAPPING      

L

LABOR LEGAL LIGHTHOUSE LOTTERY
LAKE LEGISLATURE LIGHTING LOVE
LAUGHING LEISURE LIGHTNING LUMBER
LAUNDRY LIBRARY LOGO  
LEAVES LIFESTYLE LOOTING  

M

MAINTENANCE MEMORIAL MISSING MOVIE
MAN MERGER MODEL MUG
MASCOT MIGRANT MONSOON MULTIPLE
MEAT MILD MOOD MURDER
MEDIA MILITARY MOON MUSEUM
MEDICAL MINERAL MOSQUE MUSIC
MEDICINE MINING MOTORCYCLE  
MEETING MISSILE MOUNTAIN  

N

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER NUCLEAR NUDITY

O

OBITUARY OCEAN OFFICIAL OPERA
OBSCENITY OFFICE OIL ORGANIZATION
OCCUPATION      

P

PAINTING PERFORMING POLICE POULTRY
PARACHUTING PET POLITICS PRAYING
PARADE PIE POLLUTION PREGNANCY
PARK PLANT POLO PRISON
PARKING PLAYGROUND POOL PRISONER
PEACE PLAYING POOR PROMINENT
PENSIVE POINTING POSTOFFICE PROSTITUTION

R

RACE REFUGEE RETAIL ROBOT
RACING RELATED RETIREMENT ROCK
RADIO RELAXING REVOLT RODEO
RAILROAD RELIGION RIDING ROLLERCOASTER
RAIN RESEARCH RIGHTS ROYALTY
RANCH RESCUE RIOT RUNNING
REACTION RESORT RIVER  
READING RESTAURANT ROAD  
RECYCLING RESTORATION ROBBERY  

S

SAD SHOPPING SPACE STRIKE
SAFETY SHOW SPACECRAFT STUDENT
SATELLITE SIGN SPEAKING SUBMARINE
SCANDAL SILLY SPECTATOR SUBWAY
SCENERY SKATING SPILL SUICIDE
SCHOOL SKELETON SPOUSE SUMMER
SCIENCE SKIING SPRING SUN
SCUBA SKYDIVING STADIUM SUNBATHING
SCULPTURE SLED STAMP SUPERNATURAL
SEARCH SLEEPING STATION SURFING
SERIOUS SMILING STATUE SURGERY
SEX SMOKING STEALING SWIMMING
SHIP SNOW STOCK SYNAGOGUE
SHOES SOFTBALL STORE  
SHOOTING SOLAR STORM  

T

TATTOO TELESCOPE TORNADO TREASURE
TAX TELEVISION TORTURE TREE
TEACHER TERRORISM TOY TRIAL
TEAM TESTING TRAFFIC TRIP
TECHNOLOGY THEATER TRANQUIL TRUCK
TEENAGER THUMBSUP TRANSPORTATION TUNNEL
TELEPHONE TOASTING TRAVEL TYPHOON

U

UFO UNIFORM UNION  

V

VANDALISM VETERAN VIOLENCE VOLUNTEER
VEGETABLE VICTIM VOLCANO VOTING
VEHICLE VIDEO VOLLEYBALL  

W

WALKING WAVING WIND WORKING
WAR WEAPON WINE  
WASTE WEATHER WINTER  
WATER WEDDING WOMAN  

Y

YACHT YAWNING    

Z

ZOO      

 

2. Photo Types (separate field)

ACTION HORIZONTAL SILHOUETTE
AERIAL INTERIOR SKYLINE
DAY LANSCAPE TIME-EXPOSURE
EXTERIOR MUG VERTICAL
FISHEYE NIGHT VIDEOSTILL
FULL-LENGTH PORTRAIT WIDEANGLE
GAME PROFILE  
HALF-LENGTH SATELLITE  

 

3. Graphic Types (separate field)

CARICATURE DIAGRAM LINEART
CARTOON DRAWING MAP
CHART GRAPHIC SKETCH

 

4. Photo Breakdowns/Refinements (Enhancement Terms used in a special manner)

ALONE GROUP RELATED
CROWD MOOD SPEAKING
EARLY PERFORMING SPOUSE
FAMILY PROMINENT TRIP

 

 

SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION – NEWS DIVISION
PHOTO ARCHIVING TASK FORCE

Word Groups

October, 1999

 

ACTION & EMOTION
ABANDONED EATING KAYAKING SAD
AMUSEMENT EXCITED KISSING SERIOUS
ANGRY EXERCISING LAUGHING SILLY
BEHAVIOR FAITH PARACHUTING SLEEPING
CELEBRATION FEAR PARKING SMILING
CLEANING FIGHTING PENSIVE SMOKING
CLENCHING FISHING PERFORMING SPEAKING
COMMUTING GESTURING PLAYING STEALING
COMPETING GRIEVING POINTING TESTING
COOKING GRIMACING PRAYING THUMBSUP
CRYING HANDSHAKE RACING TOASTING
CYCLING HAPPY REACTION TRANQUIL
DANCING HOLDING READING VOTING
DIVING HUNTING RELAXING WALKING
DRIVING INJURY RIDING WORKING
DRINKING JUMPING RUNNING YAWNING

 

ALSO PICTURED
ACCESSORY HAIR SHOES TELEPHONE
GLASSES HAT TATTOO  

 

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
AUDIO FRAUD NUCLEAR SCANDAL
BUSINESS FUEL OIL SCIENCE
CHEMICAL HARASSMENT ORGANIZATION STOCK
COMPUTER INDUSTRY RADIO TAX
ELECTRIC INJURY RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY
ENERGY INVENTION RETIREMENT TESTING
EQUIPMENT MERGER ROBOT TELEVISION
EXECUTIVE MINING SAFETY UNION
FACTORY NEWSPAPER SATELLITE VIDEO

 

COLLECTING
ACCESSORY COLLECTIBLE GOLD RESEARCH
ANTIQUE CRAFT HISTORIC ROYALTY
ARCHAEOLOGY EXTINCT INVENTION RESTORATION
ART FOSSIL JEWELRY SCULPTURE
AUCTION FUNDRAISER LIBRARY STATUE
BOOK GEM LIFESTYLE VOLUNTEER
CHARITY GHOSTTOWN MUSEUM TREASURE

 

CRIME, DISASTERS, VIOLENCE, WAR
ABANDONED DISEASE KIDNAPPING ROBBERY
ABORTION DRUG LOOTING SAD
ABUSE EXECUTION MILITARY SCANDAL
ACCIDENT EXPLOSION MISSILE SEARCH
AIDS FEAR MISSING SHOOTING
ALCOHOL FIGHTING MURDER STEALING
ANGRY FIRE OBITUARY STRIKE
ARREST FIREFIGHTER OBSCENITY SUICIDE
ASSASSINATION FRAUD PARACHUTING TERRORISM
BOMB GANG PEACE TORTURE
BURGLARY GRAFFITI POLICE TRIAL
CLENCHING GRIEVING PRISON UNIFORM
CONTROL GRIMACING PRISONER VANDALISM
CRIME HARASSMENT PROSTITUTION VETERAN
DAMAGE HOMELESS REACTION VICTIM
DEATH HOSTAGE RESCUE VIOLENCE
DEMONSTRATION INJURY REVOLT WAR
DISASTER JUVENILE RIOT WEAPON

 

EARTH & SPACE
ASTRONOMY MOON SPACE TELESCOPE
EARTH SATELLITE SPACECRAFT UFO
EXLIPSE SOLAR SUN  

 

ECOLOGY
ABANDONED GARBAGE POLLUTION TECHNOLOGY
AIR GAS RECYCLING TESTING
CHEMICAL GRAFFITI RESEARCH WASTE
CONSERVATION HAZARDOUS SAFETY WATER
DAMAGE MINERAL SCENERY  
ENVIRONMENT MISSING SPILL  
FUEL OIL TAX  

 

EDUCATION
BUSINESS GRADUATION RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY
CHEMICAL LEISURE SCHOOL TESTING
COLLEGE LIFESTYLE SCIENCE VOLUNTEER
COMMUTING MASCOT SERIOUS YAWNING
COMPETING PERFORMING SPEAKING  
EDUCATION PLAYGROUOND STUDENT  
FUNDRAISER READING TEACHER  

 

ENTERTAINMENT
AMUSEMENT FAD LEISURE READING
ATTRACTION FANS LIFESTYLE RODEO
AWARD FAIR LIGHTING ROLLERCOASTER
BEAUTY FESTIVAL MEDIA SCENERY
BULLFIGHTING FIREWORKS MEETING SMILING
CEREMONY FUNDRAISER MOVIE SHOW
CONTEST FUNERAL MUSIC SPEAKING
COWBOYS GHOSTTOWN OPERA SPECTATOR
CROWD GROUP PARADE TELEVISION
DANCING HAPPY PERFORMING THEATER
ENTERTAINER HOLIDAY PLAYING VIDEO
EXCITED INSTRUMENT RADIO  

 

FOOD & PREPARATION
ACCESSORY DESSERT HOLDING RESEARCH
BEVERAGE ETHNIC KITCHEN RESTAURANT
BUSINESS FISH LEISURE TECHNOLOGY
CHARITY FOOD LIFESTYLE TESTING
CITRUS FRUIT MEAT TOASTING
COOKING GRAIN PIE VEGETABLE
DAIRY GROCERY POULTRY WINE

 

GEOGRAPHIC
AIRPORT DESERT LIGHTHOUSE STATION
BEACH FACTORY MOUNTAIN TRANQUIL
BOAT FOREST OCEAN TUNNEL
CANAL GLACIER RIVER VOLCANO
CAVE HOME SCENERY YACHT
DAM LAKE SHIP  

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
BUILDING DEMONSTRATION LEGISLATURE ROYALTY
CAMPAIGN ELECTION MEETING SCANDAL
CELEBRATION EXECUTIVE ORGANIZATION SPECTATOR
CENSUS FAMILY PARADE STAMP
CEREMONY FLAG PERFORMANCE TRIP
CONVENTION GOVERNMENT POLITICS VOTING
CROWD INAUGURATION POSTOFFICE  

 

INTERIORS
ABANDONED ELECTRIC LEISURE SAFETY
ACCESSORY EQUIPMENT LIFESTYLE STATUE
APPLIANCE FURNITURE LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY
AUDIO GAS MODEL TELEPHONE
CONTROL HOME RADIO TELEVISION
COOKING KITCHEN RELAXING  
DAMAGE LAUNDRY RETIREMENT  

 

KID STUFF
BALLOON KITE PLAYING SLED
COSTUME PET SERIOUS STUDENT
DOLL PLAYGROUND SILLY TOY

 

MERCHANDISING
ACCESSORY FLOWER LIFESTYLE SHOPPING
ADVERTISING FUNDRAISER LOGO SIGN
BEAUTY GLASSES MASCOT STORE
BUILDING GROCERY MEDIA TATTOO
BUSINESS HAIR MERGER TELEPHONE
CLOTHING HAT NEWSPAPER TESTING
COSTUME HISTORIC RESEARCH UNIFORM
FAD LAUNDRY RETAIL VOLUNTEER
FASHION LEISURE SHOES  

 

MILESTONES
ANIVERSARY END OBITUARY TOASTING
CELEBRATION FIRST RETIREMENT  
EARLY INVENTION SUICIDE  

 

NATURE & ANIMALS
ADOPTION COWBOYS HORSE PLANT
AGRICULTURE DOG INSECT POULTRY
ANIMAL FARM LEAVES RANCH
BIRD FLOWER LUMBER ROCK
BULLFIGHTING FOREST MASCOT SCENERY
CAT FOSSIL MINERAL TREE
CATTLE GARDEN PET  

 

OCCUPATIONS
BULLFIGHTING MAINTENANCE POLICE SURGERY
COMMUTING MEDICAL RESEARCH TEACHER
COWBOY MIGRANT RETIREMENT UNIFORM
DENTISTRY MILITARY RIGHTS UNION
EXECUTIVE MINING SAFETY VOLUNTEER
FIREFIGHTER OCCUPATION SCIENCE WORKING
HAZARDOUS OFFICIAL STRIKE  
LABOR ORGANIZATION STUDENT  

 

PEOPLES & GROUPS
BLACKS HOMOSEXUAL MIGRANT REFUGEE
HISPANIC IMMIGRANT RACE TRAVEL
HOMELESS LIFESTYLE ROYALTY  

 

PHYSIOLOGY & HEALTH
ABORTION DEAF HOSPITAL RIGHTS
ADOPTION DEATH HUNGER SAFETY
AIDS DENTISTRY INJURY SCIENCE
ANATOMY DISEASE MAN SEX
BIRTH EXERCISING MEDICAL SKELETON
BODY EYE MEDICINE SURGERY
CANCER FUNERAL NUDITY SUICIDE
CARE GLASSES OBITUARY WOMAN
CLINIC HANDICAPPED POOR  
CONTROL HAZARDOUS PREGNANCY  
DAMAGE HEALTH RESEARCH  

 

RECREATION & LEISURE

AMUSEMENT

DRIVING LOTTERY SHOPPING

ATHLETE

EXERCISING PARACHUTING SKIING
AUCTION FAIR PARADE SKYDIVING
BADMINTON FANS PARK SLED

BAR

FESTIVAL

PLAYGROUND

SOFTBALL

BEACH

FIREWORKS PLAYING SPECTATOR
BICYCLE FISHING POLO STADIUM
BOATING FOREST POOL SUNBATHING
BOWLING GAMBLING RACING SURFING
CAMPING GAME READING SWIMMING
CASINO GROUP RELAXING TEAM
CIRCUS HIKING RESORT TRAFFIC
COACH

HOLIDAY

RESTAURANT TRAVEL
COMPETING HOTEL RETIREMENT VOLLEYBALL
CONTEST HUNTING RIDING WALKING

CROWD

JOGGING RODEO ZOO
CYCLING JUMPING ROLLERCOASTER  

DANCING

KAYAKING

RUNNING  
DIVING LEISURE SCUBA  

 

RELATIONSHIPS
ABANDONED COURTSHIP KISSING SEX
ADOPTION ELDERLY LIFESTYLE SILLY
ANNIVERSARY FAMILY LOVE TEENAGER
BABY FIGHTING MAN TOASTING
BEAUTY HANDSHAKE MASCOT VOLUNTEER
BEHAVIOR HARASSMENT NEIGHBORHOOD WEDDING
CARE HOLDING PET WOMAN
CELEBRATION HOMOSEXUAL PREGNANCY  
CHILD JUVENILE SCANDAL  

 

RELIGION
CELEBRATION CONVENTION MOSQUE RELIGION
CEMETERY FAITH OBITUARY SPEAKING
CEREMONY FUNDRAISER ORGANIZATION STATUE
CHARITY FUNERAL PRAYING SUPERNATURAL
CHURCH MEETING READING SYNAGOGUE

 

STRUCTURES

ABANDONED

DAM HOUSING POOL

AIRPORT

DAMAGE KITCHEN RESTAURANT
APARTMENT DEMOLITION LIGHTHOUSE RESTORATION
ARCHITECTURE EQUIPMENT MEMORIAL SCHOOL
BRIDGE EXCAVATION MODEL STADIUM
BUILDING (noun) FACTORY NEIGHBORHOOD STATION

CASTLE

HOME OFFICE STATUE
CONSTRUCTION (activity) HOTEL PAINTING (activity)  

 

TRANSPORTATION
AIRCRAFT FUEL ROBOT TRAVEL
AUTO GAS SAFETY TRIP
BICYCLE KAYAKING SHIP TRUCK
BOAT MOTORCYCLE SPACECRAFT VEHICLE
BOATING PARACHUTING STATION WALKING
BUS RACING SUBMARINE YACHT
COMMUTING RAILROAD SUBWAY  
CYCLING RIDING TRAFFIC  
DRIVING ROAD TRANSPORTATION  

 

WEATHER
AIR EARTHQUAKE MONSOON TRANQUIL
AUTUMN FLOOD POLLUTION TORNADO
AVALANCHE FOG RAIN TYPHOON
CLOUDS HOT SCENERY VOLCANO
COLD HURRICANE SNOW WATER
DAMAGE ICE SPRING WEATHER
DISASTER LIGHTNING STORM WIND
DROUGHT MILD SUMMER WINTER

 

 


SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION – NEWS DIVISION
ELECTRONIC PHOTO ARCHIVING TASK FORCE

Persons who signed in for the meeting June 8, 1998 in Indianapolis:


Text and Photo Database Enhancement Terms
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This page was originally created in October, 1999. Last Updated: 11/5/2001
Carolyn Edds
ufriverat@gmail.com