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Offensive and outdated terminology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
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
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Offensive and outdated classification (addressed at the campus level)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:
Alma: /Shared Folders/Community/Reports/Consorita/MNPALS/Resources & Collections It is called "Project - .Nx Cutter Tracker (Regex)"
Alma: /Shared/Community/Reports/Institutions/UWisconsin/Critical Cataloging. It is called “Cancelled N Cutter Items”
Campuses undertaking relabeling:
San Diego and Imperial Valley: complete
Fresno: ongoing
Sonoma: ongoing
CalPoly SLO: complete
Monterey Bay: complete
Northridge: ongoing
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:
Sonoma: complete
Fresno: ongoing
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 theHomosaurus, 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.
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.
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.