T02: Reconciliation and why words matter: Decolonizing library metadata
Session Description
Generously Sponsored By: Simon Fraser University Library
The controlled vocabularies prescribed by the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) to describe Indigenous Peoples are often archaic and inappropriate. As the task of decolonizing library description becomes an increasingly pressing issue for libraries across Canada, some libraries have begun to make changes on their own. In the absence of guidance from our national libraries, many other libraries struggle with balancing the goals of reconciliation and interoperability.
BCCATS presents a panel of experts to discuss these issues and answer questions about their experiences working with library metadata as it relates to reconciliation.
Speakers
Michelle Yule, West Vancouver Memorial Library
Biography
Michelle Yule is the Head of Collections at West Vancouver Memorial Library. Previously she worked at various public and academic libraries around the Lower Mainland including Capilano University and Vancouver Public Library. Michelle received her MLIS from UBC in April 2014.
Ryan Vernon, Langara College
Biography
Ryan Vernon is the Department Chair and Coordinator of Technical Services at Langara College. He is a member of BC-CATS, who he represents on the CFLA / CFAB Cataloguing and Metadata Standards Committee. In addition to his work in technical services, he was a recipient of BCLA’s Academic Librarians in Public Service Award in 2009, and has previously presented on accessibility and library services at BCLA, Beyond Hope, NEADS and DRN. He holds an MA in Literature from U.Vic and an MLIS from UBC.
Rachel Rogers, Greater Victoria Public Library
Biography
Rachel Rogers is the Senior Librarian, Cataloguing and Digital Collections for Greater Victoria Public Library. Rachel recently returned to Victoria after 15 years as a music librarian in Toronto. She believes strongly in cataloguing as a customer service, and is happy to colour outside the lines if it means giving better access to her patrons.
Steve Maiczan, West Vancouver Memorial Library
Biography
Steve earned his MLIS degree at School of Library and Information Science at the University of Western Ontario in 1992. Steve was employed at the National Library of Canada/Library and Archives Canada from 1990-2010. In 2010 he moved to the North Shore and worked on contract at the SFU Library from 2011 - 2012. Currently, Steve works as an auxiliary librarian at West Vancouver Memorial Library and North Vancouver District Library.
Alissa Cherry, Museum of Anthropology
Biography
Alissa Cherry is the Research Manager at the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She holds an MLIS from UBC and is a member of the Academy of Certified Archivists. Prior to joining MOA in 2014, Alissa managed the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs Resource Centre, worked for both the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society and Xwi7xwa Library, and was librarian in Yellowstone National Park.