2021 Conference » Inappropriate metadata terms: decolonising and modernising library subject indexes @UON

Gaby Travill
Georgina Dimmock
Masniza Sore

7×7 presentation (10m)

Much of the library focus around decolonisation has been around reading lists and the items on those lists…but what about the metadata that describes those items? What about the controlled vocabulary subject headings that are structured within our library systems? This session will look at the work UON Library and Learning Services has undertaken to uncover inappropriate, legacy Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) within the UON library system. It also examines the actions UON can take to remove pejorative and out-of-date LCSH to help decolonise and modernise, whilst also looking at what universities are doing globally to address the issues, and the limitations upon us.