Title

Bias in the Stacks: Seeking Justice on the Shelves

Authors

Liz Kielley, Messiah UniversityFollow
Sarah Myers, Messiah UniversityFollow

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2-22-2022

Abstract

Words matter. To make materials findable, libraries have relied on subject headings and classification numbers to organize their resources. Have you ever wondered how these subjects or classification numbers were developed? Both the Dewey Decimal Classification and Library of Congress Classification were developed with a Western-centric, white, Christian, male perspective. How does the language we use in our subject headings reinforce marginalization? In what ways can libraries reconcile the inequalities found in these standardized policies to be inclusive of diverse and multicultural perspectives? What are Messiah’s Murray Library and other institutions doing to create balance?

Speakers:

• Elizabeth Kielley (Discovery and Metadata Librarian)
• Sarah Myers (Public Services Librarian)

Panelists:

• Elizabeth Kielley (Discovery and Metadata Librarian)
• Rob Lesher ‘93 (Pennsylvania Library Association)
• Bernadette A. Lear (Penn State-Harrisburg)
• Devin Manzullo-Thomas (Messiah University Archives)

Comments

The video presentation of this event is available here: https://mosaic.messiah.edu/lib_exhibit/4/

Recommended Citation

Kielley, Liz and Myers, Sarah, "Bias in the Stacks: Seeking Justice on the Shelves" (2022). Library Exhibits & Events. 2.
https://mosaic.messiah.edu/lib_exhibit/2