Why do we use LCSH? What are its benefits and limitations?
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LCSH should be first source for subject and genre headings and if terms are offensive, outdated, inaccurate, or not specific enough other existing thesauri should be used. Homosaurus and African Studies Thesarus (need to triple check that you cannot facet) are not faceted, so are limited in their use for descriptive cataloging and should generally be seen as supplementary to LCSH when faceted headings are needed/desired. The use of locally created subject headings is NOT recommended.
--- Include PCC statement here Ref pcc statement about unreliability of lcsh due to political influence, etc. ---
Alternative vocabularies and thesauri
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African Studies Thesaurus terms are NOT faceted, so you are only able to assign general headings using it. Because of this it is best to use this vocabulary as a supplement to the LCSH since it is more robust and faceted when you are looking for more complex structured headings with $$v $$x $$y and $$y $$z fields.
To use this vocabulary in the 650 subject field use a second indicator of 7 and add a subfield 2 with the source code ascl after the term
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This appears to not actually be available for use beyond UBC Xwi7xwa library currently. You may see these headings on bibs in Connexion, but for now won't be able to add them to records yourself. See https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277022370_Indigenization_of_Knowledge_Organization_at_the_Xwi7xwa_Library for more details on this vocabulary.
--- Discuss SACO Funnel/Local Harvard SACO efforts here ---
Maybe describe process for staff requesting changes to LCSH at Schlesinger and at Harvard:
Submitting terms for review
Within Harvard Library the SACO Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Anti-Racism Task Group (SACO DIBAR Task Group)
From Harvard:
“How can we all contribute to this effort?
We encourage library staff to submit for correction LCSH terms that might be considered offensive, or to suggest new terms according to these principles, through oursurvey. A link to this survey may also be found on the SACO DIBAR Wiki page, linked above. Please direct faculty, students and all other patrons who find offensive LCSH terms, or who have suggestions for new terms according to these principles, to theHOLLIS Feedback link. More information on this process may be found under "How do I report an offensive term found in Hollis?" at theAsk a Librarian FAQ page.” "is charged with reviewing controlled terms governed by the Library of Congress Subject Authority Cooperative Program (SACO) for possible revision in light of EDIBA principles." Their wiki page tracks headings under consideration and includes a form for staff to submit terms for the group to review, they ask for the following information with each submission: the existing term, a proposed preferred term, the MMS ID of the corresponding bibliographic record in Alma, and references to any related sources and/or justification/reasoning for the change.
Link to African American Subject Funnel Project (@SACO): https://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/saco/aframerfun.html
Info on the history of the funnel: https://drive.google.com/file/d/179ZDjC-E7Bey5W282HaGKDHMkttfLFQC/view
Possible actions Harvard Library has
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utilized for local changes
To deal with LC's reluctance to change subject headings related to undocumented immigrants, the Harvard Library "Change the Subject" Task Group implemented a local solution in January 2021 to remap any headings with "aliens" to display as "noncitizens" and the heading "illegal aliens" to display as "undocumented immigrants." This solution was reversed in 2022 after LC changed the heading involved. This could be a potential temporary solution to future problematic headings. Information on the project and its implementation can be found here:
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