Critcatenate: #critcat in November 2021

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 November 2021:

• New article “Collecting for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Best Practices for Virginia Libraries” by Nan Carmack for the journal of the Virginia Library Association. Advises keywords/local subject headings be added to LCSH for discovery, training and self-awareness for catalogers and vendors.
• New article “Just like Museums, Libraries Aren’t Neutral” by Fuchsia Hart, based on a viral tweet thread. Focuses on the LCC classification of people in Afghanistan,  the history in Palestine being treated from an Israeli perspective, as well as denoting time periods in the Middle East according to dynastic periods.
• Webinar “ELUNA learns – DEI Initiatives” included sessions on using local Alma name & subject authorities for Indigenous peoples of North America, the LCSH change to “Tulsa Race Massacre” through the SACO process, & survey results from 130 libraries on how to address derogatory language in subject headings. Half-day event held December 1st, but the recording is available for a year for those who register ($25).
• Short Twitter thread by Tracy Shields on recent changes to MeSH (Medical Subject Headings), efforts to address bias, and the need for more work on this topic.
• News article “Outdated terms referencing Indigenous peoples are being removed from SD 60’s library catalogue” reporting on a school district in British Columbia replacing #LCSH “Indians of North America” with “Indigenous peoples” and replacing Anglicized names of Indigenous groups with their preferred terminology.
• The Trans Metadata Collective‘s Name Authorities Working Group is looking to evaluate existing institutional guidelines for trans/gender diverse subjects, authorities, etc. If your institution has guidelines, send them to Bri Watson.
• A call from E. Johnson-DeBaufre to add the subject heading “Eugenics” to the bib record for the journal “Mankind Quarterly.”
• ALA Core Board of Directors has endorsed the Cataloguing Code of Ethics, which is now available in the ALA repository.
• Blog post from October “On Outdated and Harmful Language in Library of Congress Subject Headings” by Columbia Libraries archivist Celeste Brewer. A good summary of why we use #LCSH and what needs to happen for alternatives to replace/ supplement terminology (“alternatives require widespread adoption and investment to succeed”).
• Presentation “Changing the Narrative” given by members of the Medical Libraries Association Hispanic/Latinx Inclusive Terminologies Project at the REFORMA National Conference, talking about their efforts to create inclusive Hispanic/Latinx terminologies in MeSH. Find more information at the project page: https://osf.io/9mgwq/.
• OCLC webinar “Reimagining Descriptive Workflows: An Anti-Racist Approach” by Merrilee Proffitt, hosted by CILIP.  “Participants will learn about work that has been done at OCLC and elsewhere to understand the impact of harmful descriptive practices and will hear about outcomes from a June 2021 workshop. Attendees will be invited to reflect on how they can participate in changing power structures that will result in more just descriptions.” Free recording available.
• The big LCSH news is about the revision of “Illegal aliens” to be replaced by the headings “Illegal immigration” and “Noncitizens.” Opinions vary about this outcome, but many are unhappy with the replacement terms, despite this very sunny press release from ALA about the revision: “ALA Welcomes Removal of Offensive ‘Illegal aliens’ Subject Headings,” calling it a reflection of social justice values. Here’s one of the news articles about U.S. senators pushing back on the change: “Sen. Ted Cruz goes after Library of Congress for dropping term ‘illegal alien’“. See this Book Riot article, “Library of Congress Subject Heading Change Doesn’t Address the Real Issue” by Kelly Jensen, and my Twitter thread, for more thoughts. The co-director of the Change the Subject documentary, Jill Baron, is hosting listening sessions this month to talk to library workers about how they feel about the revision.
• A proposal was made to change the LCSH “Slaves” to “Enslaved persons,” which was “retained” until March 2022 “due to concerns that terminology used in society in general may not have changed sufficiently.”

Upcoming:

• Friday December 10: “Cataloguing and classification ethics: an ARLIS online talk” by Deborah Lee, sponsored by the ARLIS (Art Libraries Society) Cataloguing and Classification Committee, discussing the problematic design of cat and class systems, practitioner ethics, and the wider context including barriers/issues/tensions in making changes to our systems/practices.
• Thursday December 16: “Tackling Racism and Bias in the Library Catalog,” sponsored by the Public Library Association. Featuring Paloma Celis Carbajal, Melissa Gasparotto, Amy Mikel, & Steven Pisani of New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library.

Please get in touch if I’ve missed anything relevant, I’d be happy to add it to next month’s report!