Do subject headings still matter? We say they do.

Does the Library of Congress always identify accessible and appropriately named headings and implement them in a timely manner? We say not always. All you have to do is spend one day behind a reference desk to see examples of biased, non-inclusive, and counterintuitive classifications that slow down, misdirect, or even obscure information from library users. As librarians and library workers, providing access to information is important-and classifying it in ways that are inclusive and intuitive strengthens our egalitarian mission.

Between now and Sunday, April 27, Radical Reference invites you to suggest subject headings and/or cross-references which will then be compiled and sent to the Library of Congress. You can either choose one previously suggested by Sandy Berman (pdf or spreadsheet) or propose your own.

This is a chance to positively impact the catalog of the de facto national library of the United States, which also impacts cataloging all over the world! Here's how...

The plan

Some time between now and Sunday, April 27 at 6pm Eastern:

1. Select one or more subject headings or cross-references to suggest
2. Provide material to support your suggestion (in the form of a link and excerpted text/image)
3. Blog it somewhere (your own site; Radical Reference--if you're a registered and authenticated user on the site, you can create your own blog post, if not, just make it a comment to this post; an online file sharing service like Google Docs or Zoho)
4. Tag it for del.icio.us: rr_lcsh2008 and for:radical_reference. If you don't have a delicious account email me, and I'll tag it for you.
5. If you are suggesting a subject heading not previously submitted to LC (e.g. not on Sandy's scorecard), also submit your proposal to the Program for Cooperative Cataloging.
6. For discussion and help, join the Meebo and/or Skype chat,which will be active on Sunday from 4-6 ET for sure, and other times, as staffed.
7. If you are in the NYC area, you can come to the ABC No Rio Computer Center on Manhattan's Lower East Side for some in person collaboration.
8. We will email a link to the tagged items to LC, print out a copy of each blog post and mail it to Sandy, and we're kinda hoping that the members of the RADCAT (radical cataloging) discussion list will consider entering some of the suggested headings properly into the proposal form

Example of a new subject heading request.

Example of a new cross-references request.

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In this space, we will collaborate to decide which subject heading or cross-reference we would like to blog about as a group on the PLG Blog:

(Feel free to pick a topic and write about it in your own blog! Just follow the format/tagging instructions listed above.)

 

What subject headings and/or cross-references are you interested in/do you feel are important?

 

I would be interested in the following for SH's:

Bike mechanics (or maybe saying bicycle mechanics?)

Sexism in punk culture

Freeganism (I vote for this one too, mainly because I love neologisms! But I am a bit concerned it is too new....)

 

Fat acceptance movement

(*all of the above, suggested by Nicole, are from Sandy Berman's list)

Bollywood Movies/Films (I cannot believe this one doesn't already exist!  It's the (2nd?) biggest film industry in the world!) (suggested by Amy, and from Sandy Berman's list)

 

 

I would be interested in the following for cross-references:

Jenna's example of feminism/feminist waves