Inclusive Description Work
- Allison Bailund
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Offensive and outdated terminology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 | In process (to resubmit a subject heading proposal) Norm rule to show as “incarceration” can be found here; scroll down to subjects. |
Offensive and outdated classification (addressed at the campus level)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 | Call numbers for people addressed by Library of Congress; numbers with “O” for languages not addressed by LC
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, Kathy: kathleen.boyd@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:
Additional Recommended Sites and Sources
UNC Guide to Conscious Editing (archival focus)
Best Practices in Authority Work Relating to Indigenous Nations in the U.S.
SACO Funnels (whose work focuses on updating LCSH)
LAIPA Funnel (Latin American and Indigenous Peoples of the Americas)*
Medical Funnel (also suggests MeSH revisions)
*IDTF members are part of the Funnel and are happy to take ideas to Funnel meetings.