Inclusive Description Practices for Religious Collections

Many libraries have made efforts to prioritize inclusive description as part of organizational efforts to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion. Library workers can take meaningful steps to provide inclusive description using existing systems and standards for resource description and access. While library classification systems and controlled vocabularies are intended to facilitate access, they may at times create unnecessary barriers for inclusive and equitable access to collections.

This workshop is grounded in the principles of critical cataloging and will provide a framework for inclusive, equitable, and antiracist metadata creation. The workshop will clearly define the term inclusive description and related terms for shared understanding and introduce cultural concepts that form a solid foundation for inclusive metadata creation. The workshop will cover tools, resources, and strategies for inclusive description, and include hands-on activities for practicing skills in a learning environment.

After attending this workshop, you will be able to:

• Clearly define terms such as inclusive description, critical cataloging, and other related terms
• Have a firm understanding of cultural concepts underpinning inclusive description work in libraries
• Become familiar with resources for inclusive description

This course is intended for any library worker (including students) interested in addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion in cataloging and metadata. This is not a cataloging workshop, therefore knowledge of MARC cataloging is not required. Some experience with subject analysis and metadata creation will be helpful – though not required – for engaging in hands-on activities.

Code of Conduct

The following session code of conduct* applies for this session (*adapted from the Digital Library Federation (DLF) Code of Conduct “How to be” section)

• listen as much as you speak, and remember that the presenter and other attendees with marginalized identities may have expertise you are unaware of;
• encourage and yield the floor to those whose viewpoints may be underrepresented within Atla;
• accept critique graciously and offer it constructively;
• stay alert, as Active Bystanders, to the welfare of those around you.

Register for “Inclusive Description Practices for Religious Collections” here.