The language we use matters. The Library of Congress's recent decision to approve alternatives to the 'Illegal aliens' family of subject headings represents a first step toward making our catalogs, finding aids, and discovery layers welcoming to all of our users. How do we identify and address other problematic terminology? How do we fill in the blanks where underrepresented populations should be? And how can we do this in a sustainable way? This session will help attendees place inclusive descriptive practice in its broader historical context and provide sample strategies for incorporating this work into our daily routines.

Recorded at the 2022 AALL Annual Meeting & Conference. Please note the opinions shared during the programs represent the views of the speakers and not of AALL.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Cataloging/metadata professionals, acquisitions librarians, library managers, and anyone interested in the philosophical, historical, and practical aspects of 'cataloging with a conscience'

TAKEAWAYS:

1. Participants will be able to summarize the philosophical and ethical considerations surrounding inclusive descriptive practice.
2. Participants will be able to explain the historical context of inclusive descriptive practice and the sources of underlying bias in our tools.
3. Participants will be able to list strategies to sustainably incorporate inclusive descriptive practice in their library's work.

SPEAKERS:

• Laura Daniels, Cornell University Library
• Julie Hardesty, Indiana University Bloomington
• Ryan Tamares, Stanford Law Library

COORDINATOR/MODERATOR:

• Jacqueline Magagnosc, Cornell Law Library

AALL BODY OF KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS: Professionalism + Leadership At Every Level,  Information Management