Cataloging Work Group

The LSP Governance Committee created the DEI Task Force at the July 26, 2021 retreat after an initial subject heading change project was completed to replace the term “illegal aliens” in library catalogs with “undocumented immigrants”. The subject heading change project continues as the LSP DEI Task Force determines a process for making additional replacements or changes, to be carried out by the Network Zone Manager.

Library of Congress Subject Headings include terms related to noncitizens and undocumented immigrants that are pejorative and offensive to many users of OneSearch. This problem has been well documented and discussed among librarians since 2016 when proposed changes to the terminology by the Library of Congress were rejected by Congress, and unable to be implemented. Since then, the American Library Association’s Subject Analysis Committee has recommended specific changes to the terminology and that libraries should make changes locally, rather than wait on the Library of Congress to act.

The details of the project along with two possible and suggested solutions were presented to the CCCL Governance Committee on February 5, 2021. The Governance Committee voted to adopt the first suggested change: “Prioritize the User Experience”. The project proposal can be found here: February 5, 2021 Proposal to the Governance Committee, submitted by the Cataloging Workgroup, “Topic: Change display of racist LCSH terms related to undocumented immigrants in NZ”.

Yes. As reported in a Sept. 1, 2020 article in American Libraries, “Conscientious Cataloging: Librarians Work to Advance Equity in Subject Headings,” librarians across the country are working on projects to replace or hide stigmatizing or dehumanizing subject headings in their catalogs. An extensive “List of Statements on Bias in Library and Archives” is available online.  In addition, The LSP DEI Task Force, 2021-2022, has compiled an extensive list of resources on the subject.

From the Feb. 5, 2021 “Proposal to the Governance Committee”: The following table lists the Library of Congress Subject Headings (left) that were changed in the NZ and their alternate subject headings (center).

From the Feb 5, 2021: “Proposal to the Governance Committee”: We have followed recommendations made by the American Library Association’s Subject Analysis Committee. These changes also align with what other institutions, including but not limited to the CSUs.

The NZ manager has replaced the non-preferred terminology found in MARC 6XX for all bibliographic records linked to the NZ. Essentially, non-preferred terminology was updated through a “find and replace” type function.

It is possible that some “illegal aliens” subject headings were missed in the implementation of the normalization rules. If you search “illegal alien” in OneSearch, limit the search to Subject and Available in Print, and you discover NZ records that contain visible “illegal alien” subject headings, please report these to the NZ Manager by submitting a support ticket here: https://ccleague.freshdesk.com/support/home

Subject searches will no longer retrieve results for the non-preferred terminology; however, keyword searches will. Note that subject authority records have not been updated to help provide “see” or “see also” results.

In November 2021, the Library of Congress approved changing “Aliens” to “Noncitizens” as well as changing “Illegal aliens” to “Noncitizens” AND “Illegal immigration.” See LCSH Approved Monthly List 11b (November 12, 2021). The LC change from “Aliens” to “Noncitizens” is in line with our own changes to NZ records. However, we prefer to use “Undocumented” in lieu of the word “Illegal”, and will keep our preferred terminology in our display norm rule for these subject headings in the NZ. The word “illegal” is dehumanizing and racially charged. For a critical perspective on LC’s November 2021 changes, please read Still Changing the Subject: Examining Library of Congress Subject Headings and Considering Options for Change by Stephanie M. Roach.

Note: Any changes made to the display of a library’s records will only affect the display of the records in that institution’s catalog. There will be no change to the actual bib record and therefore, the master record found in the NZ will remain unchanged.

Please submit a FreshDesk help ticket for the NZ manager to assist: https://ccleague.freshdesk.com/support/home.

The LSP DEI Task Force is developing a process to “identify and collect potentially offensive terms discovered in bibliographic records while taking into consideration individual institutional needs and concerns. All processes, mechanisms, and practices that address how to collect and remove or replace potentially offensive terms should be equitable and transparent for all LSP members.” The Task Force will report on its conclusions at the May 2022 LSP Governance Committee Meeting.

The LSP DEI Task Force is currently working on the process whereby library staff and students can submit terms for replacement or removal from library discovery layers. The Task Force will report on its conclusions at the May 2022 LSP Governance Committee Meeting.

Stigmatizing terms impact library users and are in conflict with our ideals of diversity, equity, inclusivity, anti-racism, and accessibility. As an example of how library users are impacted, the short documentary “Change The Subject” shows what happened when a group of students at Dartmouth College encountered anti-immigrant language in their library’s catalog. The film follows the process the students and library staff took to challenge anti-immigrant language in Library of Congress subject headings.

It’s promising to note that the Library of Congress has been accepting proposals to change problematic subject headings. As an example, in 2021 they agreed to update “Tulsa Race Riot” to “Tulsa Race Massacre”. The process for adding and revising Library of Congress Subject Headings is explained on their website: Process for Adding and Revising Library of Congress Subject Headings | Cataloging and Acquisitions (Library of Congress) (loc.gov) 

Batch cleanup work may be required when/if the Library of Congress moves forward with universally updating terminology. The Cataloging Work Group will advise on this if necessary.

The Cataloging Work Group holds monthly office hours (see upcoming events) and can help with any cataloging related questions including this project.