Statement on Potentially Harmful Languages in Library Catalog
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library strives to describe our collections in a way that is inclusive and respectful of all communities that we serve, in accordance with the University’s and the Library’s strategic plans.
While we follow national and international metadata standards when describing our collections, some terms in these standards may not always be in accord with our efforts toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). In addition, description is a product of the time in which it is created, and some of our historical resources may have been described employing language and values that are not consistent with current best practices at the University of Illinois Library.
We are committed to the on-going work of creating and updating our cataloging and metadata practices to reflect the Library’s values of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
When creating and reviewing catalog and metadata records in all library systems and services, we honor and adhere to the Cataloguing Code of Ethics. The Cataloging and Metadata Working Group continues to monitor and engage with emerging developments for DEIA-related best practices and to implement appropriate changes to our cataloging and metadata practices.
The Cataloging and Metadata Working Group has already taken the first action of changing certain potentially harmful terms in existing metadata. We recognize that maintaining updated and accurate descriptive metadata is an ongoing process and we will continue to actively identify potentially harmful terms and language and revise them with inclusive and respectful terms.
*Please contact the Cataloging and Metadata Working Group (capt-cmw@library.illinois.edu) if you have any questions or suggestions for additional changes.