The Local Government Category List (LGCL), is a
metadata standard
A metadata standard is a requirement which is intended to establish a common understanding of the meaning or semantics of the data, to ensure correct and proper use and interpretation of the data by its owners and users. To achieve this common unde ...
controlled vocabulary
Control may refer to:
Basic meanings Economics and business
* Control (management), an element of management
* Control, an element of management accounting
* Comptroller (or controller), a senior financial officer in an organization
* Controllin ...
of subject
metadata terms related to local government, published in the UK. It has been superseded by the
Integrated Public Sector Vocabulary (IPSV) but remains available for reference.
Development
The LGCL was developed by the Local Authority Websites National Project (LAWs), an initiative that aimed to meet the "requirement for a structured approach to information handling, publication and navigation". The LGCL was created as part of the Information Architecture & Standards project strand, the responsibility for which was delegated to the
London Borough of Camden
The London Borough of Camden () is a London borough in Inner London. Camden Town Hall, on Euston Road, lies north of Charing Cross. The borough was established on 1 April 1965 from the area of the former boroughs of Hampstead, Holborn, and ...
. Version 1.0 was released in October 2003 and version 1.01 in the following month. Version 1.02 was released in January 2004 and officially remains the current full version. Version 1.03 was published in March 2004 but is still considered to be a draft.
The LGCL was merged with the
Government Category List
The United Kingdom Government Category List (GCL) was a type of controlled vocabulary called a taxonomy
Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification.
A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of class ...
, and the seamlessUK taxonomy to form the
Integrated Public Sector Vocabulary (IPSV) as part of the UK Government
e-GMS
The e-Government Metadata Standard, e-GMS, is the UK e-Government Metadata Standard. It defines how UK public sector bodies should label content such as web pages and documents to make such information more easily managed, found and shared.
The ...
initiative. The LGCL has since been mapped back to the IPSV as well as having been mapped to the Government Category List and the Local Government Services List (the 'PID List') and the previous APLAWS Category List. The LGCL and mappings are published in
XML
Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing arbitrary data. It defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable ...
,
PDF and
Word
A word is a basic element of language that carries an objective or practical meaning, can be used on its own, and is uninterruptible. Despite the fact that language speakers often have an intuitive grasp of what a word is, there is no conse ...
formats.
LGCL is formally deprecated in favour of the IPSV.
Description
The LGCL comprises a poly-hierarchy of terms, comprising thirteen broad high-level terms divided into increasingly detailed sub-levels. The top-level terms are:
*Business
*Community and living
*Council, government and democracy
*Education and learning
*Environment
*Health and social care
*Housing
*Jobs and careers
*Legal services
*Leisure and culture
*Policing and public safety
*Social issues
*Transport and streets
These top-level terms are each divided into two-level terms, some of which may be further sub-divided into as many as four further sub-levels of detail. Thus, for example, "Wheelchairs" appears as a sixth-level sub-division of Health and social care:
*Health and social care
**Health and medical care
***Physical disability
****Disability equipment
*****Mobility
******Wheelchairs
Terms may be repeated at different levels but have consistent meanings, so, for example, "Cycling" appears as a type of transport route under "Transport and streets","Cycling, pedestrian and other pathways","Cycling" as well as an outdoor pursuit under "Leisure and culture","Sports","Types of sports", "Outdoor pursuits", "Cycling".
Synonyms are provided for many of the preferred terms. The standard also includes a commitment that terms will never be removed from the list but may change status or move position in the hierarchy between versions.
Use
One of the intended uses of the standard was to provide a default local authority Web site navigation hierarchy that could be used flexibly with an appropriate level of detail to meet local requirements.
The standard was also recommended for use as the basis of
records management system file plans.
Availability
The LGCL remains freely available "without guarantees and without licensing costs" and may be used and reproduced free of charge provided specific restrictions and appropriate attribution are respected.
References
{{reflist, 2
External links
Where can I find the latest Local Government Category List (LGCL)?
Communications in the United Kingdom
E-government in the United Kingdom
Information systems
Local government in the United Kingdom
Metadata standards