Reparative Metadata Work at the University of Houston Libraries

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GMT20210609-200719_Recording_gallery_1920x1040.mp4 (71.07 MB)

Date

2021-06-10

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Abstract

Language used in archival description and digital collections metadata reflect and reinforce dominant values and power structures. Individuals and groups that are marginalized are subject to misrepresentation and erasure in the historical record. Inspired by recent reparative cataloging projects for physical resources, a team at University of Houston Libraries began a pilot project to look critically at the descriptions for a set of digital library resources whose original counterparts are often used in classes that are studying slavery.

Description

Language used in archival description and digital collections metadata reflect and reinforce dominant values and power structures. Individuals and groups that are marginalized are subject to misrepresentation and erasure in the historical record. Inspired by recent reparative cataloging projects for physical resources, a team at University of Houston Libraries began a pilot project to look critically at the descriptions for a set of digital library resources whose original counterparts are often used in classes that are studying slavery. The goal of the team, comprised of a metadata librarian and a special collections librarian, was to center humanity in the descriptions. The legacy descriptions were problematic: focused on the wealthy enslavers, many of whom were part of the original “Old Three Hundred” Anglo settlers to Texas, while ignoring or minimizing references to the enslaved people. Relying heavily on Dr. Gabrielle Foreman’s crowdsourced document, “Writing about Slavery/Teaching about Slavery: This Might Help,” the team reviewed existing metadata, made revisions, and plans to seek feedback from faculty. This poster will detail the process followed in revising the descriptions and provide before and after examples of the descriptions, as well as include related images for context. The authors hope that conversations around this poster will embody the 2021 Conference Core Value “to create a supportive and challenging environment that fosters respectful dialogue, reflection, and growth; empowers participants to voice their concerns and perspectives; and encourages participants to learn from mistakes."

Keywords

language, description, metadata

Citation

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http://hdl.handle.net/11213/18014

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2021 Conference