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Implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the Catalog: A Case of Library Connection Inc. (LCI) Libraries

Judy Njoroge

Bibliographic Services Manager

Library Connection, Inc.

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Agenda

  • Goals of the DEI project
  • Timeline
  • How we did it
  • Where we are… Next steps…

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PRESENTATION TITLE

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Goals of the DEI Project

  • Replace outdated, inappropriate, offensive, or insensitive subject headings while ensuring that resources in our catalog remain searchable and discoverable

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  • Add current, appropriate, and inclusive subject headings if missing, allowing resources on these subjects to be more discoverable

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Timeline

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Research: Approaches/Options, System and Staff Capabilities,

Associated Costs

2020-2021 Sept

Presentation to Bibliographic Services Committee

2021 OCT

Presentation to LCI Board of Directors for project approval

2021 NOV

Approval of proposed subject replacements and additions

2022 JAN

Implementation of automated subject replacements

2022 FEB

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Manual updating of non automated replacements, additions, and LC changes

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ONGOING

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Approach

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Option 1: Delete outdated subject headings and add new DEI subject headings

Option 2: Add new DEI subject headings in addition to the outdated subject headings. Both are searchable and display to staff and patrons.

Option 3: Recommended:

  • Add new DEI subject headings that are searchable and display in the OPAC
  • Suppress outdated subject headings while still indexing them so that they are searchable but do not display in the OPAC
  • The outdated and new DEI subject headings are searchable and display to staff

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Implementation

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Option 1: Manually going through records, replacing outdated headings, and adding new headings.

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Option 2: Using an outside paid service.

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Option 3: Recommended:

Developing inhouse automated tools to replace outdated headings and prevent display of outdated terms in catalog.

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Subject Headings Proposal and Approval Procedure

  • Start a new DEI listserv where members can propose subject headings
  • Subject headings should come from reputable sources with citations included
  • Members have a month to discuss and vote on subject replacements/additions
  • DEI listserv members vote on and approve subject headings -- each library gets one vote
  • Any changes implemented are reported to the Board at the following Board meeting

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Ongoing Cataloging Procedures

  • Continue using authorized LC or MESH subject headings when cataloging in Sierra or OCLC
  • Replacement work will be in LCI catalog only
  • Revert to authorized LC subject headings when LC authorizes any of the DEI subject headings
  • Library staff can request for addition of approved DEI subject headings to specific records by emailing LCI helpdesk

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Ongoing Cataloging Procedures

  • Staff involved in original cataloging encouraged to actively include current, appropriate, and inclusive subject headings to applicable resources for more discoverability. Use the following source codes:
      • |2homoit for subjects from the Homosaurus
      • |2gsso for subjects from Gender, Sex, and Sexual Orientation (GSSO) ontology
      • |2local DEI term for subjects from any other source that does not have a MARC source code (In Sierra only)

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Initial List of Proposed Subject Headings Replacements

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Outdated/Offensive/Insensitive/Inappropriate Library of Congress or MESH Subject Headings

DEI Subject Headings

*Blacks

Black people

*Whites

White people

Poor

Poor people

*Aliens

Noncitizens

*Illegal aliens

Undocumented immigrants

*Alien detention centers

Immigrant detention centers

*Children of illegal aliens

Children of undocumented immigrants

*Illegal aliens in literature

Undocumented immigrants in literature

*Women illegal aliens

Women undocumented immigrants

Problem children

Children with behavior problems

*Problem youth

Youth with behavior problems

Slaves

Enslaved persons

Slaveholders

Enslavers

Slave trade

Trafficking in enslaved persons

Slave traders

Traffickers in enslaved persons

Child slaves

Enslaved children

Indians of North America (and its variations)

Indigenous peoples--North America

*Later authorized by LC

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Sample Proposed Subject Headings Additions

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DEI Subject Headings from Homosaurus

Genderqueer people

Transgender Asian Americans

Transgender Jews

LGBTQ+ Jews

LGBTQ+ deaf people

Non-binary people

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System Changes

Updated Indexing

Updated the subject index to include 6XX 2nd indicator 9 and all 690s except those with 2nd indicator 2

Updated Mesh index to include 6XX with 2nd indicator 8 and 690 with 2nd indicator 2

*Required database re-indexing which Innovative charges

Updated Encore Suppression Rules

Do not display 6XX with 2nd indicator 9 (outdated LC and Fast) or 2nd indicator 8 (outdated MESH)

Updated Marcive Processing Specifications

Preserve all 6XX with 2nd indicator 9 (outdated LC) or 2nd indicator 8 (outdated MESH)

Preserve all 690s

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Record Update

LC Subjects

Change 6XX 2nd indicator from 0 or 1 to 9 to suppress

Add DEI subject in 690 2nd indicator 7 and subfield |2local DEI term

MESH subjects

Change 6XX 2nd indictor from 2 to 8 to suppress

Add DEI subject in 690 2nd indicator 2 with subfield |2local DEI term

Fast subjects (have |2fast)

Change 2nd indicator to 9 to suppress the fast headings without replacement since the equivalent terms will already be in the other subjects.

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Record Update Processes

  1. Automated update using Sierra API -- script runs every night
  2. Manual update -- when we have time or as needed
  3. Batch update using Sierra Global Update Function -- as needed

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Automated Sierra API Subject Replacements

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Outdated/Offensive/Insensitive/Inappropriate Library of Congress and MESH Subject Headings

DEI Subject Headings

Illegal immigration

Undocumented immigration

Poor

Poor people

Problem children

Children with behavior problems

Slaves

Enslaved persons

Slaveholders

Enslavers

Slave trade

Trafficking in enslaved persons

Slave traders

Traffickers in enslaved persons

Child slaves

Enslaved children

Indians of North America

Indigenous peoples|zNorth America

Indians of Central America

Indigenous peoples|zCentral America

Indians of Mexico

Indigenous peoples|zMexico

Indians of South America

Indigenous peoples|zSouth America

Indians of the West Indies

Indigenous peoples|zWest Indies

*Indians, North American

Indigenous peoples, North American

*Indians, Central American

Indigenous peoples, Central American

*Indians, South American

Indigenous peoples, South American

*MESH headings

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Record Update Process: Manual Updates

Manual Update

  • When there is no 1:1 equivalent
  • For addition of subjects if missing entirely e.g., from Homosaurus or LCSH
  • For subjects with possible ambiguity therefore requiring review of the records

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Before Manual Review

After Manual Review

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Record Update Process: Batch Updates

Batch Update Using Sierra Global Update Function

  • When LC authorizes a subject that is in our DEI replacement list with a 1:1 replacement e.g., Blacks, Whites, and Problem Youth
    • Delete the subjects from the API script list
    • Delete the DEI subjects in 690 with |2local DEI term
    • Change 2nd indicators in the LC, MESH and Fast subjects back to what they were
    • Load updated authority records
    • Replace the outdated subjects with the updated subjects

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In Sierra

In Encore

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In Sierra

In Encore

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Challenges

  • API re-ordering record fields
  • Time constraints

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Where We Are … Next Steps …

Current status

  • 9252 records with DEI subject replacements
  • 205 record with Homosaurus headings

What next?

  • Keep updating the Indian subjects manually
  • Identify other subjects that should be replaced
  • Investigate new OCLC Macro for adding Homosaurus subject headings

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References

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1. Archives for Black Lives in Philadephia’s Anti-racist Descriptions Working Groups. (October 2019). Archives for Black Lives in Philadelphia: Anti-racist description resources. https://archivesforblacklives.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/ardr_final.pdf

 

2. Bone, C. (2017). Changes to Library of congress Subject Headings related to Indigenous Peoples: for use in the AMA MAIN Database. http://hdl.handle.net/1993/31177

 

3. Cronquist, M & Ross S. (2021, July 28). Black subject headings in LCSH: Successes and challenges of the African American Subject Funnel Project. In Nerissa Lindsey & Yukira Sugiyama (Co-chairs), The cataloging and Classification Research Interest Group (CCRIG) Core IG Week, July 28, 2021 [Webinar presentation] Ethical cataloging: Toward diversity and inclusiveness. https://tinyurl.com/4fkk9rwy

 

4. Decolonizing the catalog: RUSA webinar explores avenues for antiracist description. (November 1, 2021) American Libraries Magazine, November/December 2021. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2021/11/01/decolonizing-the-catalog/

 

5. Fisher, Rachel K. (2021, July 28). Using Homosaurus in a public library consortium. In Nerissa Lindsey & Yukira Sugiyama (Co-chairs), The cataloging and Classification Research Interest Group (CCRIG) Core IG Week, July 28, 2021 [Webinar presentation] Ethical Cataloging: Toward diversity and inclusiveness. https://tinyurl.com/4fkk9rwy

 

6. Fox, V. (June 19, 2020). Report of the SAC Working Group on Alternatives to LCSH "Illegal aliens." Submitted to the ALA/ALCTS/CaMMS Subject Analysis Committee. https://alair.ala.org/bitstream/handle/11213/14582/SAC20-AC_report_SAC-Working-Group-on-Alternatives-to-LCSH-Illegal-aliens.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

 

7. Hobart, E. (2020) Antiracism in the catalog : an analysis of records. https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/24596/32405

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Thank you

Judy Njoroge

Bibliographic Services Manager

Library Connection, Inc.

jnjoroge@libraryconnection.info

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