Slides from a presentation given February 10, 2022 for the Amigos Library Services Changing Standards, Local Choices: Navigating the Current Cataloging Landscape conference, online. Library cataloging has traditionally been directed by standards and structures that have not necessarily reflected - or even included - perspectives from or respectful descriptors for many marginalized individuals and groups. Critical cataloging practices offer metadata and cataloging personnel ways to address some of these inequities as well as a way to provide more accurate and respectful descriptions in bibliographic data and catalog search systems. This presentation will offer an introduction to critical cataloging and demonstrate its relevance to and potential impact on library personnel and users in contexts including name authority files, classification, subject headings, alternative vocabularies, and other aspects of resource description. Presenters will offer perspectives as learners, not experts, in this area. They will discuss their institution's exploration of critical cataloging in ongoing conversations, development of local workflows, and projects, including updating Cutter numbers and the reparative cataloging of a digital collection of public domain sheet music. The discussion of local critical cataloging projects will also address the challenges associated with taking on new initiatives during an increasingly demanding time of limited resources. This session will offer resources and potential starting points for attendees to think critically about their own metadata and cataloging work. It will also offer guidance about incorporating critical cataloging practices and concepts into the workplace.
Henry et al. (2022) studied this question.