Summary of the Problem or Issue

The CLSP Metadata & Cataloguing Subcommittee recommends the use of the College Union Catalogue (CUC) file to be a basis of the Shared Catalog, “Masterfile”, for the Network Zone. The CUC file does not reflect the work done by the colleges around Decolonizing the Catalogue.

The Metadata & Cataloguing Subcommittee recommends updating the current CUC file to reflect the decolonizing work, synchronize the work among the 24 college libraries and to establish a shared source for the 18 college libraries that are currently taking part in CLSP. The Network Zone presents an opportunity to build a foundation for future collaboration for the maintenance and sharing of bibliographic records.

Discussion

Taking into consideration all the efforts already done by colleges to decolonize subject headings, the Metadata & Cataloguing Subcommittee discussed two approaches that were brought forward to the Decolonizing College Catalogues Subcommittee to provide guidance on which approach to take.

One: Update the CUC w/ decolonized work done by colleges who have replaced subject terms

Two: Update the CUC w/ decolonized work done by colleges who have added subject terms as well as kept the LC subject heading

The Network Zone records will be the foundation from which the 18 colleges participating in the CLSP will source master records therefore the chosen approach will impact the institutional level workflow.

Note: If none of the approaches above are not desirable at this time we will upload the CUC file as is.

Research

The ad hoc working group from the Decolonizing College Catalogues Subcommittee met on December 6. The group suggests the Network Zone should be updated with colleges who have added subject terms as well as kept the LC subject headings with the expectation colleges will have the ability to suppress the display of fully indexed terms. This will require configuration and maintenance of a list of exact offensive terms in each Primo VE instance. Moving forward it is recommended that all colleges use this approach as part of their cataloguing practice along with the other recommendations coming out of the Decolonize College Catalogues Subcommittees' CLO Report such as a create messaging to indicate to users that college libraries are aware of offensive language in our Library of Congress subject headings and are actively engaged in finding solutions, to further update other inappropriate Library of Congress subject headings, and build a consortial authority file.

Recommended Actions

The Metadata and Cataloguing Subcommittee recommends following the suggestion of the Decolonizing College Catalogues Subcommittee to update the Network Zone with the records of colleges who have added subject terms as well as kept the LC subject headings with the expectation colleges will have the ability to suppress the display of fully indexed terms.

In addition, The Subcommittee recommends that a procedure is developed for the colleges to follow that will ensure the configuration and maintenance of a list of exact offensive terms in each Primo VE instance. The MetCat Subcommittee will submit a request for Briefing Note to the Discovery/Customer Services/Front End (a.k.a. UX) Subcommittee to this regard.

Expected Outcome

Striking a balance when sharing of master records between improved user experience and minimal impact to existing workflows while we move into a new shared system will benefit all colleges while they focus priorities on other recommendations from the Decolonize College Catalogues Subcommittee’s research report. Of particularly note is the building and maintaining a consortial authority file.