Critcatenate is an effort to keep folks up to date on #critcat efforts with a monthly roundup of news. #critcat is short for critical cataloging, focusing on the ethical implications of library metadata, cataloging, and classification standards, practice, and infrastructure.
#critcat in October 2021:
- New survey “Description specialists and inclusive description work in LIS“: Treshani Perera, a researcher at the University of Kentucky Libraries, invites you to participate in a research study investigating the educational, work experiences, and demographics of description specialists involved in inclusive description work and/or initiatives in LIS.
- “Identity, Anti-Bias Practices, and the Library Catalog” video recording now available, recorded in September. In Episode thirty-Two of New York Public Library’s Doc Chat series, NYPL’s Paloma Celis Carbajal and Jelicia Jimenez were joined by Bronwen Maxson of the University of Oregon to discuss how issues of identity, particularly as relates to immigrant communities in the U.S., have shaped discovery tools such as library catalogs in far-reaching ways.
- “Metadata and DEIA” webinar recording & slides now available. Presentation hosted by the NISO Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Committee featuring Treshani Perera, Merrilee Proffitt, and Brian M. Watson.
- Chicago Open Archives 2021 Unconference included multiple critcat/critarch sessions, including “Critical Cataloging: Introducing Local Headings” by Gretchen Neidhardt and Elizabeth McKinley of the Chicago History Museum and “Let the Records Speak: Uncovering the Stories of Black Women in the WCTU” with Janet Olson and Kristin Jacobsen of the Frances Willard House Museum and WCTU Archives. All session recordings are available on the Chicago Area Archivists Youtube channel.
- New blog post “On Adding Autistic People to HV” by Netanel Ganin (from September), regarding recent additions to the LCC schedules for classifying works about autistic people.
- New bibliography “A Cataloging and DEI Reading List” created by Taylor Diken, with sections on Cataloging and Technical Services, Classification Systems and Knowledge Organization, Subject Headings and Name Authority Records, and In Practice: Changing LCC and LCSH.
- “Treating subjects with respect: how the Libraries are addressing discrimination and harmful content in its catalog” post on two projects at the Miami University Libraries, revising the “Illegal aliens” LCSH and putting “sensitive content” warnings on displays for sensitive visual materials in digital collections.
- Twitter thread from Merrilee Proffitt on anti-racist work in libraries and the need for apology in repair.
- Twitter thread from Tina Gross on metaphors for replacing/reforming LCSH.
- Webinar session “Collaborative Approaches to Address Representational Bias in Search Applications” discussing how librarians, publishers, and vendors can work together to revise metadata practices. One of the 2021 Charleston Preconference sessions [not sure if it was recorded or not?].
- News article critiquing critcat work: “Leading historian speaks out as National Library of Scotland rewrites ‘harmful’ colonial language“: updating library catalogue records and resources criticized as “anachronistic”.
- “Stratford library taking steps to update offensive colonial language in its catalogue” news article in The Stratford Beacon Herald (Ontario) by Chris Montanini.
- New chapter: “Cataloguing, Classification, and Critical Librarianship at Cambridge University” in book Narrative expansions: interpreting decolonisation in academic libraries, including case studies on moving from UDC to LCC at the African Studies Library, revising the Polar UDC classification, & cataloging cartoneras from Argentina. Click “sample chapter” on this page to download this chapter.
- Valuable step-by-step guide on “How to Propose a New Topical LCSH” for those not in SACO libraries compiled by Beck Schaefer.
- New LCSH this month include:
- Racism in law enforcement
- Capitol Riot, Washington, D.C., 2021
- Sixties Scoop, Canada, 1951-ca. 1980
- Indigenous children–Government policy
- Request for cataloger’s help to test the usage of ISO 639-3 language codes in MARC records, which would provide better access to less common languages. Catalog 2-5 resources using PCC draft Guidelines for test of use of ISO 639-3 language codes in MARC records. Deadline December 3.
- September 2021 issue of Catalogue & Index from CILIP-Metadata & Discovery Group includes several critcat-related papers, including:
- “Walking the talk: cataloguing ethics in an era of pandemic” by Jane Daniels discussing each of the ten principle statements in the Cataloguing Code of Ethics
- “Changing the subject at the University of Macedonia Library & Information Centre” by Elisavet Chantavaridou, Evaggelia Semkou, & Athina Kesidou discussing revisions to #LCSH for North Macedonia & Illegal aliens at
the University of Macedonia library, inspired by the Change the Subject documentary film
Upcoming:
- Wednesday November 3: “Authors, Authority, & Identity: Facilitating Self-Identification for Discovery & Inclusive Knowledge Production“. Part of Harvard Library’s Advancing Open Knowledge initiative, featuring speakers Amber Billey, Julia Bullard, Hannah Carton, B.M. Watson, Ciyadh Wells.
- Tuesday November 9: Minitex (Minnesota) Technical Services Symposium happening online. The 2021 theme is “Good Trouble: Activism and Ethics in Technical Services”. Critcat sessions include:
- “Scruples and Hoopla: Ethical principles into ethical actions” keynote by Beth Shoemaker
- “From the Back Room to the Front Line: Integrating DEI Primary Sources for Discovery” by Faye Mazzia and Ying Zhang
- “Demographics of Cataloging and the New White Man’s Burden” by Preston Salisbury
- Friday November 19: “It’s All Subjective: Modern Subject Analysis” virtual fall meeting of NOTSL (Northern Ohio Technical Services Librarians). Presentations include:
- “‘About’ Is What It’s About! The State of Subject Access” by Rocki Strader
- “Underrepresented Collections in the Howard B. Waltz Music Library” by Linda Bagley, Clara Burns, and Kelsey A. Fuller
- “Ghost in the MARChine: Pseudonymity and Anonymity Usage in Electronica Music Sound Recordings” by Leonard “Leo” Martin
- Call for submissions: the next issue of Catalogue & Index will be on the topic of advocacy, very relevant to critcat interests. Consider submitting your example of advocating for more staff / resources or for the value of metadata / cataloging. Deadline November 30.
Please get in touch if I’ve missed anything relevant, I’d be happy to add it to next month’s report!