Drafting the inclusive metadata statement

Abstract

Offensive/outdated terminology in library cataloging standards has been discussed for some years now, particularly around the subject heading “illegal aliens.” A recent trend in library cataloging and technical services departments has been to create public statements that acknowledging these problems to their communities and actions that have been or will be taken to address offensive/outdated terminology found in our standards. The professional catalogers at the University of Central Oklahoma teamed up in summer 2021 to create such a statement, and this lightning talk will address why we created this statement, how we structured this statement, and our own steps for transforming words into actions.