Transcript The Ethics of Maintaining LCSH

The Ethics of Maintaining LCSH
A presentation for the CaMMS Forum
ALA Midwinter 2017
Janis L. Young
Policy and Standards Division
Library of Congress
History
• Subject Headings Used in the Dictionary Catalogues
of the Library of Congress (1914)
• Based on List of Subject Headings for Use in Dictionary
Catalogs (1895)
• Foundation of the principle of literary warrant
The Proposal Process
• Literary warrant
• Headings are proposed as needed for materials being
cataloged
• Headings are based on usage in materials and
reference sources
The Proposal Process
• Proposal is scheduled for a Tentative List
• Posted for public comment
• LC catalogers and catalogers in SACO institutions are
particularly encouraged to comment on proposals
The Proposal Process
• Policy specialists
• Review every proposal
• Was sufficient research provided?
• Is the concept appropriate for LCSH?
• Is the proposal properly formatted?
• Does the heading reflect the research, the rules on LCSH style and
syntax, and precedent?
• Are the BT, RT, and UF references appropriate?
• Should there be a scope note? If so, how should it be worded?
The Proposal Process
• Policy specialists
• Consider all of the comments
• Determine whether each individual proposal
should be approved
• Write and distribute the Summary of Decisions
• Publish the Approved List
The Proposal Process
• Proposals approved in FY2016
• 2,600 proposals for new headings
• 260 proposals for revisions to existing headings
• 760 proposals for other miscellaneous changes
• 110 proposals rejected in FY2016
ALA Code of Ethics
Principle 1
We provide the highest level of service to all
library users through appropriate and usefully
organized resources; equitable service policies;
equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and
courteous responses to all requests.
Usefully Organized Resources
African American biologists
Buildings—Retrofitting
Chong language
Estuarine ecohydrology
Historical poetry, Ukrainian
Small interfering RNA
Wildcat Mountain State Park (Wis.)
Usefully Organized Resources
Binge watching (Television)
Garden gnomes
Slushies (Beverages)
Autonomous vehicles
Gender-neutral toilet facilities
Stop and frisk (Law enforcement)
Usefully Organized Resources
McKinley, Mount (Alaska)
Denali, Mount (Alaska)
Usefully Organized Resources
Buddhist dance
Buddhist dance
Architecture, Buddhist
Buddhist architecture
Christian libraries
Christian libraries
Inscriptions, Christian
Christian inscriptions
Hindu chronology
Hindu chronology
Arts, Hindu
Hindu arts
ALA Code of Ethics
Principle 6
We do not advance private interests at the
expense of library users, colleagues, or our
employing institutions.
ALA Code of Ethics
Principle 7
We distinguish between our personal convictions
and professional duties and do not allow our
personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation
of the aims of our institutions or the provision of
access to their information resources.
Avoid Personal Bias
Casa del Diablo (San Luis
Tehuiloyocan, Mexico)
Avoid Biased Terminology
1924: Cripples
1956: Physically handicapped
2001: People with disabilities
Reflects the
people-first movement
Avoid Biased Terminology
Women as [profession]
Women as accountants
Women accountants
Women as librarians
Women librarians
Pattern discontinued in 1973
Base Decisions on Research
• Monographs
• Encyclopedias and dictionaries
• Newspapers
• Peer-reviewed journal articles
• Indexing and abstracting services
• Authoritative websites
etc.
Base Decisions on Research
Proposal: Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Crash, 2015
Crashed?
Hijacked?
Pilot error?
Pilot suicide?
Bombed?
Disappeared?
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Incident, 2015
Base Decisions on Research
• Events in Syria began in 2010 as part
of the Arab Spring
• Heading proposed in 2012
Civil war
Insurgency
Clashes
Protests
Deadly clashes
Unrest
Demonstrations
Uprising
“Where possible, use
conventional terminology
or the generally accepted
name in English.”
– SHM H 1592
Base Decisions on Research
Syria—History—Protests, 2011Syria—History—Civil War, 2011-
Syrian Civil War, Syria, 2011-
Syria—History—Demonstrations, 2011-
Syrian demonstrations , Syria, 2011-
Syria—History—Rebellion, 2011-
Syrian protests, Syria, 2011-
Syria—History—Revolt, 2011-
Syrian rebellion, Syria, 2011-
Syria—History—Revolution, 2011-
Syrian revolt, Syria, 2011-
Syria—History—Unrest, 2011-
Syrian revolution, Syria, 2011-
Syria—History—Uprising, 2011-
Syrian unrest, Syria, 2011Syrian uprising, Syria, 2011-
Base Decisions on Research
Syria—History—Protests, 2011-
September 2013
“Syria’s civil war”
—John Kerry
“A brutal civil war”
—Barack Obama
“Syrian Civil War” —Britannica
Base Decisions on Research
Syria—History—Civil War, 2011Syria—History—Demonstrations, 2011-
Syrian Civil War, Syria, 2011-
Syria—History—Protests, 2011-
Syrian demonstrations , Syria, 2011-
Syria—History—Rebellion, 2011-
Syrian protests, Syria, 2011-
Syria—History—Revolt, 2011-
Syrian rebellion, Syria, 2011-
Syria—History—Revolution, 2011-
Syrian revolt, Syria, 2011-
Syria—History—Unrest, 2011-
Syrian revolution, Syria, 2011-
Syria—History—Uprising, 2011-
Syrian unrest, Syria, 2011Syrian uprising, Syria, 2011-
Maintaining LCSH is…
an enormous responsibility…
“A good librarian knows that the
best way to file a book is to
understand how a reader would
classify it themselves.”
–Roger Warner, Librarians
are the New Napoleons
Maintaining LCSH is…
an enormous responsibility...
tedious and occasionally frustrating…
and an awesome privilege.
Questions?