Critcatenate: #critcat in June 2022

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 June 2022:

• New report: Metadata Best Practices for Trans and Gender Diverse Resources by the he Trans Metadata Collective, Jasmine Burns, Michelle Cronquist, Jackson Huang, Devon Murphy, K.J. Rawson, Beck Schaefer, Jaime Simons, B. M. Watson, and Adrian Williams. 34 pages covering best practices for using LCSH, LCSH to avoid, list of trans-related LCSH, cataloging with other vocabularies, recording (or not recording) gender and name changes in name authority records, and bibliography.
• New recording available: Cataloging with the Homosaurus: Who, What, When, Why, & How presentation by Jay Colbert (presentation slides available on GitHub).  One-hour video about applying Homosaurus terms. “In particular, this workshop will focus on terms relating to sexual orientation, romantic orientation, and gender identity, as well as slang words with other common meanings. Jay will also touch on outdated or offensive terms and when to apply them.”
• New version of Homosaurus released (version 3.2) featuring more than 250 new terms and around 175 updates or redirects.
• New article: “Advancing the Relationship between Critical Cataloging and Critical Race Theory” by Karen Snow and Anthony W. Dunbar, discussing how CRT can provide valuable evidence for critical cataloging efforts to make cataloging more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
• New article: “Controlled Vocabulary as Communication: The Process of Negotiating Meaning in an Indigenous Knowledge Organization System” by Margaret C. Joyce & Keahiahi S. Long, discussing the process of creating a Hawaiian knowledge organzation system, Ka Wai Hāpai.
• New article: “On Overlap and Otherness: A Comparison of Three Vocabularies’ Approaches to LGBTQ+ Identity” by Brian Dobreski, Karen Snow, & Heather Moulaison-Sandy, providing a systematic analysis of LGBTQ+ representation in the Homosaurus, LCSH, and Library of Congress Demographic Group Terms (LCDGT).
• New article: “Body-Oriented Cataloging as a Method of Inclusive Gender Representation” by Travis Wagner, discussing suggestions on how to engage in body-oriented description how it can positively impact gender inclusive cataloging.
• New article: “‘I Try… but Do I Succeed?”’ Representing the Diversity of Australian Culture in the National Library of Australia’s Catalog” by Jodie Boyd, providing results of a survey of Australian catalogers on how cataloging standards and structures are in conflict with efforts to reflect cultural diversity in Australia.
• New blog post: “DEI in Libraries and Archives: Lessons Learned from a Reparative Description Project” by MLIS student Nancy Henke on her work reviewing potentially offensive language on descriptions for digitized objects at Colorado State University. Nancy Henke also created a LibGuide on Resources for Reparative Archival Description as part of her work.
• New internship available: Paid Reparative and Inclusive Description (RID) Survey Scholar Intern is a part-time short-term position at the University of San Francisco for graduate students with interests in social justice, anti-racism work, critical diversity studies, cataloging, indexing & taxonomies, history, or librarianship. Remote work possible; applications due July 4.
• New recording available: “IGBIS Webinar: Cataloguing ethics and inclusivity with Dr Deborah Lee” hosted by the Interest Group for Bibliographic Standards of the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA).
• Published in April 2022 but new to me blog post: “What’s in a Name?: Metadata, Digital Ethics, and the Making of a British Trans Archive” by Adrian Kane-Galbraith.
• New news article: “By improving catalogues and collections, U of T librarians aim to be respectful of Indigenous voices” featuring a story on the University of Toronto Libraries.
• News from the June 2022 meeting of SAC (ALA’s Subject Analysis Committee):
  • LC is creating a comprehensive project plan to address LCSH relating to Indigenous peoples, with work to start in fall 2022. Revisions will be made to “Indians of North America,” “Eskimos,” etc. LC will be also be revising the LCSH “Slaves” to “Enslaved Persons.” LC is now adding history information to LCSH, LCGFT, etc. authority records so it’s easier to see what changed when. Find more info at SAC 2022 Annual Meeting LC Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division Report.
  • SAC Working Group on External Review of LC Vocabularies (chaired by me [Violet Fox] and Jamie Carlstone) will be working on a report which will suggest potential avenues for non-LC groups to be involved in reviewing LCSH and other LC controlled vocabularies. Find more information about that group’s background and work at the SAC 2022 Annual Meeting report of the SAC Working Group on External Review of LC Vocabularies.
• New recording available: “Approaches to Reparative Metadata Projects” featured speakers from Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, University of South Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida International University, & Florida State University, including topics such as addressing colonialism in 19th century newspapers, digital collections description cleanup projects, enhancing juvenile biography subject headings, developing a local thesaurus, & computational queries of potentially offensive descriptions to be addressed. Find the slides about the projects at Approaches to Reparative Metadata Projects slides.
• New vendor news: “Announcing improved subject headings relating to Indigenous cultures” about a project undertaken by NoveList to change more than 2,300 subject headings relating to Indigenous peoples and cultures of the Americas.
• In case you missed this article from May, it’s a good one: “The Old and the Prudish: An Examination of Sex, Sexuality, and Queerness in Library of Congress Classification” by Tiffany Henry, Rhonda Kauffman and Anastasia Chiu.
• The new SACO LGBTQIA+ Funnel has met once and welcomes volunteers who want to improve LGBTQIA+ related subject headings. If you’re interested in being a part of this work, check out this page with information about SACO funnels and contact Margaret Breidenbaugh. No cataloging expertise required, just interest and a few available hours per month.

Upcoming:

• Monday July 11: Linking Ethics & Data: The Creation and Use of the Ethics In Linked Data Checklist presentation by Bri Watson, Alexandra Provo, Allison Bailund,  and Erin Canning at the 2022 LD4 Conference on Linked Data
• Thursday July 14: Metadata Justice in Oklahoma Libraries & Archives Symposium presented by the University of Central Oklahoma Chambers Library. Keynote by me! (Violet Fox), and sessions including:
  • “Started From the Middle, Now We’re Here: Making a Game Plan for Metadata Justice at the Dickinson Research Center” by Kera Newby, Lulu Zilinskas, & Samantha Schafer
  • “The Ethics of Creating Linked Open Data for Oklahoma Native Artists” by Megan Macken, Oklahoma State University
  • “Reparative Description in Local Genre Headings” by Devin McGhee, Metropolitan Library System
  • “Finding the Right Words” presentation on crafting an inclusive metadata statement by Shay Beezley & Kaitlyn Palone, University of Central Oklahoma
  • “DARE to Say NO” presentation on changing cutter numbers by Anona Earls, University of Central Oklahoma & JJ Compton, Oklahoma Christian University

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