Terrific new article about how the idea of "neutrality" has been used for decades to deny the approval of #LCSH relating to marginalized people. Great description of how subject headings are created and how inordinate scrutiny is given to certain proposals in order to appear "unbiased." #critcat 📚
New Journal Article: "Seeking Approval, Confronting Objectivity: Neutrality in the Library of Congress Subject Headings Approval Process" (Published by In The Library With The Lead Pipe www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2026/seeking... #libraries #metadata #LCSH
What is the performance of ML and ensemble models in automating LCSH assignment?
doi.org/10.1108/EL-0...
Why read? It compares classical algorithms with transformers & assesses synthetic data use.
What’s next? Research on the best combination of ML models for indexing.
#ShortReview #AI #LCSH #KO
Company News: OCLC Introduces New #AI Tools to Make #Cataloging Faster and Smarter www.oclc.org/en/news/rele... #metadata #libraries #DDC #LCC #LCSH
How much control & influence should one government or one company have over how the world organises its information? Join this event on metadata & subject classifications to help find a better way www.cilip.org.uk/events/Event... #metadata #LCSH
sometimes #lcsh uses a parenthetical qualifier after a topical term, when a term has very different meanings in different contexts
some things in #lcsh do not makes sense. Like instead of "Public policy" you are supposed to use "Political planning". WTF and why?
nowhere does assigning #LCSH feel more like engaging in some weird exercise in steampunkery than when cataloging contemporary books on video games and game studies. LCSH is a good 20 years? behind on the vocabulary
I just created an #LCSH proposal for “genderqueer people” in the system. I have no idea if it will be accepted, but to have the honor to create this for my own identity and more importantly for those who identify as GQ too… words fail. #cataloging #genderqueer
A new memorandum from the Dept of Defense listing specific subject headings to be used within military libraries to flag books with "divisive content." #LCSH #critcat 📚 media.defense.gov/2025/May/09/...
'Cataloguing the Empire: Classification as a Colonial Project' by @gabriellapreyes.bsky.social. How classification systems uphold colonial knowledge structures & contribute to epistemicideas as they disregard indigenous knowledges. journals.cilip.org.uk/catalogue-an... #DeweyDecimal #LCSH #Libraries
Does anyone have a snapshot of #LCSH in some #RDF serialization from before 14 March 2025? I would love to have an archive copy of it before the vandalism of the terms for "Mexico, Gulf of" and "Mount Denali".
We're still looking for volunteers for a working group on local authorities to address the recent #LCSH changes to Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali. The working group aims to provide guidance on how libraries can either change their subject display or create local authorities #critcat
New issue of Critcatenate now available featuring all the critical #cataloging news I could find this month. 📚 come for the yelling about bad #LCSH decisions, consider volunteering for one of the many committee opportunities! cataloginglab.org/2025/03/31/c... #critcat
![Scan of a letter from Sandy Berman to The Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division of the Library of Congress. It reads:
3-22-25
Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20540-4305
Dear Colleagues,
BRAVO! Your recent conversion of DENALI, MOUNT (ALASKA) and
MEXICO, GULF OF to MCKINLEY, MOUNT (ALASKA) and AMERICA, GULF OF, respectively, as both primary and subheadings was breathtakingly thorough and detailed. You are masters of your craft.
Alas, you are also willful handmaidens of chauvinism, ethnocentrism
and fascism. Also: Trumpism.
Many weeks ago I expressed the hope that LC would resist the
temptation to implement this palpably capricious, arbitrary, and
baseless name-charging. That admonition appears to have gone unheeded.
Our President has no authority to wantonly replace the name for
international waters that abut more countries than our own.
Beyond that, the Gulf of Mexico has been so known since about
the 16th Century. Its renaming, totally rejected by neighboring
Mexico, smacks of arrogant linguistic imperialism.
It seems the whole state of Alaska prefers the Athabascan place-
name, Denali, to McKinley, a U.S. President associated with American
expansion who never set foot in Alaska. The widely-unwanted name change is an affront to Alaska's indigenous population, as well as
its state legislature and two Republican senators.
Although LC has now fully demonstrated its lock-step deference to
bigoted, unjustified authority, I hope American librarians will muster the moral and intellectual strength. to ignore its dismal example.
Sorrowfully,
[large, sprawling, angry signature]
Sanford Berman
Margaret Mann Citation Recipient
Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award Recipient
ALA Equality Award Recipient
Herb Biblo Outstanding Leadership Award for Social Justice & Equality Recipient
4400 Morningside Road
Edina, MN 55416](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:apw5oj2sravjfhmubeeiepb3/bafkreighpizqnty3utahwbozvvzj4lw7jxfq2i6nzzw5z5u2dlcf5p4b7m)
Scan of a letter from Sandy Berman to The Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division of the Library of Congress. It reads: 3-22-25 Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division Library of Congress Washington, DC 20540-4305 Dear Colleagues, BRAVO! Your recent conversion of DENALI, MOUNT (ALASKA) and MEXICO, GULF OF to MCKINLEY, MOUNT (ALASKA) and AMERICA, GULF OF, respectively, as both primary and subheadings was breathtakingly thorough and detailed. You are masters of your craft. Alas, you are also willful handmaidens of chauvinism, ethnocentrism and fascism. Also: Trumpism. Many weeks ago I expressed the hope that LC would resist the temptation to implement this palpably capricious, arbitrary, and baseless name-charging. That admonition appears to have gone unheeded. Our President has no authority to wantonly replace the name for international waters that abut more countries than our own. Beyond that, the Gulf of Mexico has been so known since about the 16th Century. Its renaming, totally rejected by neighboring Mexico, smacks of arrogant linguistic imperialism. It seems the whole state of Alaska prefers the Athabascan place- name, Denali, to McKinley, a U.S. President associated with American expansion who never set foot in Alaska. The widely-unwanted name change is an affront to Alaska's indigenous population, as well as its state legislature and two Republican senators. Although LC has now fully demonstrated its lock-step deference to bigoted, unjustified authority, I hope American librarians will muster the moral and intellectual strength. to ignore its dismal example. Sorrowfully, [large, sprawling, angry signature] Sanford Berman Margaret Mann Citation Recipient Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award Recipient ALA Equality Award Recipient Herb Biblo Outstanding Leadership Award for Social Justice & Equality Recipient 4400 Morningside Road Edina, MN 55416
Here's a banger from Sandy Berman about the #lcsh changes from Mount Denali to Mount McKinley and Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America (and The Policy, Training, and Cooperative Programs Division of the Library of Congress being "handmaidens to chauvinism, ethnocentrism and fascism."). 📚
My first post as a regular contributor to ACRLog is about LC not only implementing the changes to "Gulf of America" and "Mount McKinley," but *fast-tracking* those changes. acrlog.org/2025/03/28/a... #critcat #LCSH
In unsurprising news, tentative list 12a for #LCSH just published: classweb.org/approved-sub... and the headings are now officially "America, Gulf of" and "McKinley, Mount (Alaska)."
So now the workarounds can begin #critcat
So I guess I need to spend time next week creating and documenting local cross references on authority records because I will not institute the #LCSH changes for: Denali, Mount (Alaska) and: Mexico, Gulf of with all their associated headings.
I will not comply.
Fun fact: There's a Library of Congress subject heading
-- Managing your boss --
I just applied it to the zine Help! I Have a Manager by @b0rk.jvns.ca store.wizardzines.com/products/hel... #lcsh 📚 🎩
The courage will be shown by individual libraries who will continue to use "Gulf of Mexico" and "Mount Denali" in our catalogs.
Just like when LC cowardly revised the #LCSH to "Illegal immigration" in 2021, the onus will be on every library *except* LC to do the right thing. #critcat
Not good enough Judy Cannan. Blindly pointing to the rules in not a good enough response. #LCSH
Comments sent to #LC re: #GulfOfMexico and #MountDenali #LCSH proposals. Started each comment with the lack of literary warrant followed by very brief reasoning, followed by action to be taken (Denali: none; Gulf: see from). #cataloging #libraries
I can't tell anyone what to do about these #lcsh changes but before you even look to see how many records need changing consider whether that is complying in advance #tcmmf
The Library of Congress published a tentative list to change #LCSH (these are the subject headings used when cataloging books & cartographic materials) Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America & Mt Denali to Mt McKinley.
Comments on proposed changes can be sent to listcomments@loc.gov by Tues Feb 18, 2025
Here's the email I sent if anyone wants a script: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
#LibrarySky #LCSH
Also encourage people to email LC to oppose this proposed revision, which was announced a few hours ago (with comments deadline of today 😡).
Your email can be short (1-3 sentences) and can focus on impact to your patrons. #critcat #LCSH #cataloging 📚
news about changes to #LCSH are disappointing to say the least but let's all extend our empathy to the catalogers working there
LC published a tentative list to change #LCSH Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America & Mt Denali to Mt McKinley. Comments on the proposed changes can be sent to listcomments@loc.gov by Tues. February 18, 2025 (which is TODAY). If you oppose the change, please email! #critcat (classweb.org/tentative-su...
sigh #lcsh will almost certainly have to update its headings for Gulf of Mexico because LC is a government agency
