Why do we use LCSH? What are its benefits and limitations?
Three Decades Since Prejudices and Antipathies: A Study of Changes in the Library of Congress Subject Headings by Steven A. Knowlton
LCSH should be first source for subject and genre headings and if terms are offensive, outdated, inaccurate, or not specific enough other existing thesauri should be used.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 ---
Alternative vocabularies and thesauri
(LTS has updated HOLLIS to display (also indexed and faceted) subject headings from African Studies Thesaurus, Homosaurus, and First Nations House of Learning.)
From their website: "The African Studies Thesaurus is a structured list of English terms covering the broad field of African studies, with an emphasis on the social sciences and humanities. It contains 13419 terms (5588 descriptors or preferred terms and 7831 non-descriptors directing the user to a descriptor) and includes the names of African countries and regions, almost 1000 ethnic groups, some 500 African languages, more than 340 traditional polities and about 170 political parties. The thesaurus was developed by the Library, Documentation and Information Department of the African Studies Centre Leiden (ASCL) to facilitate subject access to the ASCL library collection. It reflects the main subject areas of the ASCL library collection and is directly linked to the library's online catalogue."
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 and $$y fields.
To use this vocabulary in the 650 subject field use a second indicator of 7 and add a subfield 2 with the source code ascl after the term
Examples of usage:
650_7 $$a enslaved people. $$2 ascl
650_7 $$a enslaved women $$2 ascl
Since the LC term available is currently Slaves, it is preferable to use the African Studies term of enslaved people. The thesaurus also has the term enslaved women, while LC's term is Women slaves.
Homosaurus: An International LGBTQ+ Linked Data Vocabulary
From their website "The Homosaurus is an international linked data vocabulary of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) terms. This vocabulary is intended to function as a companion to broad subject term vocabularies, such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings. Libraries, archives, museums, and other institutions are encouraged to use the Homosaurus to support LGBTQ research by enhancing the discoverability of their LGBTQ resources."
Homosaurus terms are NOT faceted, so you are only able to assign general headings using it. Because of this it is best to use this vocabulary as a supplement to the LCSH since it is more robust and faceted when you are looking for more complex structured headings with $$v $$x and $$y fields. In addition to terms related to gender and sexual orientation, the thesaurus has many terms related to sex and sexuality that are not represented in LCSH and are very useful for describing our more recent sex positive collections and materials. For example, there is no term in LC for Tantric sex, but there is one in the Homosaurus.
To use this vocabulary in either the 650 subject or 655 genre fields use a second indicator of 7 and add a subfield 2 with the source code homoit after the term
Examples of usage:
Subject example: 650_7 $$a Non-binary people. $$2 homoit
The LC term of Gender-nonconforming people is an umbrella term that subsumes both Non-binary people and Genderqueer people, where Homosaurus has separated these terms out so a more specific term can be used.
Genre example: 655_7 $$a LGBTQ+ autobiographies. $$2 homoit
While the available LC term of Autobiographies provides a very general description and should be included in the record, the Homosaurus term is more specific and provides visibility of LGBTQ+ materials in the catalog for users to discovery.
First Nations House of Learning 650_7 $$a First nations. $$2 fnhl
From their website: "X̱wi7x̱wa Library uses First Nations House of Learning (FNHL) subject headings developed at UBC in an effort to better reflect Indigenous Peoples’ self-identities, modes of understanding, and traditional knowledge. The FNHL controlled vocabulary is currently in development. FNHL subject headings follow a standard order of [topic]-[subtopic]-[place]-[chronology]."
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: 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 our survey. 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 the HOLLIS Feedback link. More information on this process may be found under "How do I report an offensive term found in Hollis?" at the Ask a Librarian FAQ page.”
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 utilitized 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 "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:
Best practice for LCSH headings that use "illegal" or "alien" to refer to people
Relevant articles
The Language of Cataloguing: Deconstructing and Decolonizing Systems of Organization in Libraries: https://ojs.library.dal.ca/djim/article/view/7853