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The Inclusive Description Task Force has undertaken a variety of tasks to improve descriptive metadata and present library materials in a manner that is respectful and representative of our diverse user population. Below are some of the task force’s metadata and classification projects.
Offensive and outdated terminology
Problem | Action | Status |
---|---|---|
"Illegal immigration" (Library of Congress Subject Headings) | Continue following SAC recommendation. The process will normalize the following subject headings, when the subject heading Illegal immigration is also present: Noncitizens → Undocumented immigrants Children of noncitizens → Children of undocumented immigrants Noncitizen children → Undocumented immigrant children Noncitizens in literature → Undocumented immigrants in literature Women noncitizens → Women undocumented The process will also normalize: Illegal immigration → Immigration | Complete Documentation on rules here |
Add the Sears heading Noncitizens to WorldCat bibliographic records as needed. This will ensure the term Noncitizens continues to be indexed for search | Complete | |
"Indians of North America" (Library of Congress Subject Headings | LC announced they will be revising this and related headings. Research best practices for improving access to resources by and about Indigenous peoples in California. | Research in progress for Indigenous tribes in California; goal is to work with Library of Congress/LAIPA Funnel as they propose changes |
“Forced removal and internment” for U.S. citizens during WWII | First tried proposing the term “incarceration camps.” Following that failed attempt, requested the Joint Norm Rules Task Force create a norm rule to transform the headings as follows: Japanese Americans $x Forced removal and internment, 1942-1945 → Japanese Americans $x Forced removal and incarceration, 1942-1945 Aleuts $x Forced removal and internment, 1942-1945 → Aleuts $x Forced removal and incarceration, 1942-1945 Japanese $z Canada $x Forced removal and internment, 1942-1945 → Japanese $z Canada $x Forced removal and incarceration, 1942-1945 |
Offensive and outdated classification (addressed at the campus level)
Problem | Action | Status |
---|---|---|
The letter "N" to organize materials by, about, or relating to Black people in the library's physical collections | Replace "N" with "B" in call numbers for materials by, about, or relating to Black people | Library of Congress issued change (07/2021) Alma analytics reports:
Campuses undertaking relabeling:
|
The letter "O" to organize materials by Asian authors in the library's physical collections | Follow Pitt’s practice and replace “O” with “A” in call numbers for materials by, about, or relating to Asian people | Not addressed by Library of Congress (yet) Campuses undertaking relabeling:
|
Inclusive language and alternate vocabularies
Problem | Action | Status |
---|---|---|
Inadequate options for LGBTQ+ descriptors in Library of Congress Subject Headings (i.e. “sexual minorities”) | Utilize terms from the Homosaurus, a linked data vocabulary designed to be more inclusive of the nuances of the LGBTQ+ community. Also use terms from the GSSO (Gender, Sex, and Sex Orientation ontology), which covers a wider range of topics that the Homosaurus. | Currently being discussed by the task force. Recommendation approved by COLD: Using alternative vocabularies for LGBTQ+ materials |
Adapted from University of Central Oklahoma.
Revisions to Name Authority Records
California State University Libraries are a member of NACO, the name authority cooperative program. As such, we have the ability to create and edit records in the Library of Congress Name Authority File. If you are a creator with a record in the name authority file and you would like information added or changed, we would be happy to help.
Contact either Allison: abailund@sdsu.edu or Julie: jumoore@csufresno.edu and we’ll update your record as soon as possible.
DEI Exclude List for Primo VE
The DEI exclusion list is a feature available in Primo VE. This is done in Configuration > Discovery > Other > DEI List of terms to exclude from Subject heading. Note, this is a bit misleading, it excludes it from the Facets > Topic/Subject, but not the subject field in bibliographic record.
For more information, see Configuring the DEI Exclude List from Ex Libris.
For a current list of terms the task force has compiled:
To submit another term to be added to the list: