Offensive/outdated terminology in library cataloging standards has been discussed for some years now, particularly around the subject heading “illegal aliens.” A recent trend in library cataloging and technical services departments has been to create public statements that acknowledging these problems to their communities and actions that have been or will be taken to address offensive/outdated terminology found in our standards. The professional catalogers at the University of Central Oklahoma teamed up in summer 2021 to create such a statement, and this lightning talk will address why we created this statement, how we structured this statement, and our own steps for transforming words into actions.Max Chambers Librar

Beezley, Shay

Palone, Kaitlyn

English

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Drafting the Inclusive Metadata StatementS H A Y  B E E Z L E Y  &  K A I T L Y N  P A L O N EU N I V E R S I T Y  O F  C E N T R A L  O K L A H O M AOK-ACRL ANNUAL CONFERENCE: “LEAD FROM WHERE YOU ARE (EVEN IF IT’S FROM ZOOM)”NOVEMBER 19, 2021What Is an “Inclusive Metadata Statement”?Also known as…• “Statement on Potentially Harmful Language”• “Statement on Critical Cataloging”• “Ethical Cataloging Statement”• “Historical Language Advisory”“statement on harmful or offensive language in description and bias in cataloging”State of  the Cataloging ProfessionIncreased Call for Addressing Problematic MetadataCalling out LCSH has been around for a while…“Illegal Aliens” Subject Heading…but it’s become more prominent as libraries have been making localized changesin light of partisan response to proposed removal of “illegal aliens” subjectheadingIncreased Transparency of Bureaucratic ProcessesCatalogers have been working to explicate the subject heading creation and revision process (SACO)Why Draft an Inclusive Metadata Statement?Explanation of BureaucracyEmpathy for UsersCommitment to ProgressBackgroundUCO’s Professional CatalogersShay BeezleyAssistant Director9 years as a professional catalogerKaitlyn PaloneLibrarian I5 years as a professional catalogerAnona EarlsLibrarian II8 years as a professional catalogerWe Met With Our Pals at OUMetadata Justice Working Group• Created the accepted proposal for revision of Tulsa Race Riot -> Tulsa Race Massacre subject heading• UCO catalogers met with the group to discuss this process1. Identification of the need to formalize and articulate our approach2. Formation of Oklahoma SACO FunnelWe Received A Survey From ELUNADEI in Search Advisory Group• Distributed survey to Ex Libris users asking for feedback on practices libraries currently use to address problematic terminologyDiscussion with UCO library administration on our existing practicesDiscussion lead to 3 tasks:1. Create statement2. Identify strategies3. Create a reporting formOur ProcessTask 1Draft an inclusive metadata statementTask 2Identify inclusive metadata strategies Task 3Create a form for users to report offensive terminologyReview2 rounds of review (first with area director and final review with executive director)ReleasePublished in the About section of our websiteTask 1: Draft an Inclusive Metadata StatementTask 1 Breakdown:  Reviewing Exist ing Sta tementsTask 1Draft an inclusive metadata statement1. Reviewing existing statements2. Decide on a name3. Create an outline4. Write!•We went through the list on The Cataloging Lab and read as many statements as possible•Our initial task was to identify the ones we liked best and why•Our favorite statements focused on actions specifically takenTask 1 Breakdown:  Why “Inclusive Metadata”?Task 1Draft an inclusive metadata statement1. Reviewing existing statements2. Decide on a name3. Create an outline4. Write!•No standard name for this type of proclamation•“Acknowledgment of bias”•“Statement of ethical description”•Inclusive Metadata•Phrasing aligns with UCO’s Inclusive Community initiativeTask 1 Breakdown:  Crea te An Outl ineTask 1Draft an inclusive metadata statement1. Reviewing existing statements2. Decide on a name3. Create an outline4. Write!•Acknowledgement of problematic metadata•Context•What we’re committed to doingTask 1 Breakdown:  Write !Task 1Draft an inclusive metadata statement1. Reviewing existing statements2. Decide on a name3. Create an outline4. Write!•Write collaboratively•We each took a piece of the outline and wrote the corresponding part•Consider word choice carefully•We strongly caution against using the word “decolonize” in any of these statementsWhy We Recommend Against "Decolonize”• What exactly are you trying to say with “decolonize”?• Are you violently dismantling structures?• Are you relinquishing control of colonized land and resources and returning them to Indigenous peoples?• Are you saying “decolonize” because it’s a social justice buzzword in higher ed?You can’t decolonize the catalog...…but you can certainly improve itAcknowledgementWho is acknowledging the problem? What is the problem?Where is this problem?Max Chambers Library is committed to servingunderrepresented communities. One way we accomplish thisis through our professional catalogers' dedication toaccurately and respectfully describing materials relating tounderrepresented communities. We acknowledge thatstandards for descriptive practice are entrenched indiscriminatory concepts, such as racism, homophobia,ableism, and misogyny. These practices directly affectour users as metadata rooted in discrimination may bevisible to our community in Central Search, SHAREOK,the library's website, or the library's digital collections.We are actively taking steps to ameliorate these problematicpractices that directly affect the Central community's accessto library resources.Background / Library of  CongressConsider the audienceExplain in a user-friendly mannerNot an attack on Library of Congress personnelLibraries are not without biases - bothconscious and unconscious - that affectpolicies and practices. In the case ofcataloging and metadata, the classificationof library resources reflects how acataloger views and interprets thesubject matter. We primarily use theclassification standards maintained bythe Library of Congress, which have beencreated by people with their own biasesand judgments from their specificcultures and time periods.CommitmentSo what we will do about it?By acknowledging weaknesses andflaws in these standards and otherareas of librarianship, we aim tosupport the University's inclusivecommunity initiative through thefollowing practices:Cultivate a supportive and safe environment where staff feelencouraged to acknowledge their biases and engage in constructivediscussions.Continue to identify areas of bias in the library.Apply metadata using the standards provided by the Library of Congressin a selective manner and use professional judgment for incorporatingalternative controlled vocabularies.List of  Commitments (no. 1-3)List of  Commitments (no. 4-6)Collaborate with Library Systems staff in identifying opportunities for datanormalization for vendor-supplied metadata found in Central Search.Commit to actively learning about controlled vocabularies that improveaccess to resources by or about underrepresented communities.Commit to completion of specialized training and become approved tosubmit new or revised terminology to the Library of Congress.For you, these are just examples!Before You Commit…Do you have the staffing?Can you adequately carry out the tasks you want to do? It’s ok to start small!Are you able to get training?What training opportunities are available? What are obstacles?Are you able to carry out newly-trained tasks?Be professional -- don’t waste your trainers’ time with not following through onanything!Task 2: Identify StrategiesTask 2Identify inclusive metadata strategiesTask 2•What have we done?•What are we currently doing?•What do we plan to do? Purpose• Provide evidence of action behind words• Provide examples to large audience • Show existing projects for those who might want to report somethingCategoriesOffensive/Outdated TerminologyVerbiage used in standardized library cataloging practices that is based on outdated or offensive languageClassificationThe basis for creating call numbers, which are used to organize library materials in the physical stacksInclusive LanguageOpportunities to provide more inclusive language in library metadataOffensive/Outdated TerminologyProblem Action Status"Illegal Aliens" (Library of Congress Subject Headings)Replaced with “undocumented immigrants” in metadata sourced from WorldCat as part of greater library community initiativeRetroactive removal completed (2020)On-going removal for new materials (2020-present)ClassificationProblem Action StatusThe letter "N" to organize materials by, about, or relating to Black people in the library's physical collectionsReplace "N" with "B" in call numbers for materials by, about, or relating to Black people - 300 titles affected have been identified for review and reclassifying.Library of Congress issued change (07/2021)Titles identified in collection (08/2021)Planning underway (09/2021-Present)Inclusive LanguageProblem Action StatusInadequate options for LGBTQ+ descriptors in Library of Congress Subject HeadingsUtilize terms from Homosaurus, a linked data vocabulary designed to be more inclusive of the nuances of the LGBTQ+ community, in addition to existing metadata when appropriate.Homosaurus identified as an option (2016)Adding terms on-going (2016-Present)Task 3: Create A Reporting Form For UsersTask 3: Creating a Reporting FormTask 3Create a form for users to report offensive terminology•Contacted other institutions•Decided on naming the form “Report Offensive/Outdated Terminology”•Option for users to remain anonymousOffensive/Outdated Terminology Form•Clarification about how we’re looking for metadata not found on the item itselfFinal Review and Uploaded to WebsiteOnce signed off by Executive Director, we uploaded everything to our websiteStatement Strategies FormBut our work is not done!These actions are only just the beginning• The Cataloging Lab: List of Statements on Bias in Library and Archives Description• Cataloging Ethics Bibliography• CritCat.org• CritLib.org: CritCat• "Do Not 'Decolonize'. . . If You Are Not Decolonizing: Progressive Language and Planning Beyond a Hollow Academic Rebranding"• “Decolonization is not a metaphor."Recommended ResourcesQuestions?Shay Beezleysbeezley@uco.eduKaitlyn Palonekpalone@uco.edu

Drafting the inclusive metadata statement

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Drafting the inclusive metadata statement

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