Decolonizing Description
Since 2017, the COPPUL IKSC has focused on working towards a solution to the now well-known problem of the inappropriate, missing, and inaccurate words used to describe Indigenous peoples, topics, geographies, languages, and timelines. This page outlines some of the key efforts to support conversations leading towards enhanced understanding of the technical problems in tandem with the somewhat better understood word context problems.
2018 - Making Meaning Symposium - at the University of Alberta
- Publication from the event: Leonhardt, E. (2018). Impacts and Reflections on the Making Meaning Symposium for Small, Independent Libraries. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 13 (4), 7–14. https://doi.org/10.18438/eblip29441
2018 - In Our Own Words: Decolonizing Description in the Library and Archival Community at York University & Toronto Metropolitan University
- Allison Cassin, S., & Puente, M. (2018). York, Ryerson Universities Host Summit on Decolonizing Description in Libraries, Archives. Association of Research Libraries. Retrieved May 2, 2022, from https://www.arl.org/news/york-ryerson-universities-host-summit-on-decolonizing-description-in-libraries-archives/
2019 - Sorting Libraries Out: Decolonizing Classification and Indigenizing Description - at SFU with UBC and COPPUL
2022 - Decolonizing Description - at COPPUL Directors' Spring Meeting
| Morning Panel - recording available | Convenors: Deborah Lee, IK Coordinator and Sarah Dupont, IKSC Chair |
|---|---|
| The Challenges of Competing Subject Heading Systems in Academic Library Catalogues and How to Effect Change | Sue Andrews, Past Chair of the Canadian Committee on Cataloguing, and Principal Cataloguer at UBC Library |
| Xwi7xwa Names of Nations Thesaurus | Sarah Dupont, COPPUL IKSC Chair and Head Librarian at Xwi7xwa Library |
| University of Calgary Decolonizing Description: Recent Initiatives | Heather D’Amour, AUL Collections, University of Calgary |
| University of Alberta Decolonizing Description: Recent Initiatives | Sharon Farnel, Brian Stearns, & Anne Carr-Wiggin, University of Alberta |
| Technical considerations for implementing alternate subject headings | Christine Bone, University of Manitoba |
| Introductions of OCLC presenters | Deborah Lee, COPPUL IK Coordinator |
| Reimagining Descriptive Workflows: Brief on OCLC’s Draft Report | Merrilee Proffitt, OCLC |
| Steps towards addressing overlay challenges with OCLC records and protecting local changes | Jay Holloway, OCLC |
| Coordinating Efforts: LAC’s consultations with libraries to implement SH changes | Annie Wolfe, Library and Archives Canada |