Thread by @EmmaE_B

Joining @SCURLScottish and @cigscot for their EDI Network Conference featuring @infogamerist and #EthicalMetadata and a Keynote from DeLa Dos, Senior Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion @ARLnews
#SCURLEDI

Ellie Muniandy, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, @natlibscot speaks eloquently about #EDI Workforce Development and how implementing EDI requires a deep and meaningful change in perspective and working culture #SCURLEDI

@natlibscot Organisational culture change can take a long time - there are different levels to implementing EDI from 'quick wins' in libraries like mandatory EDI training for all, to long-term objectives like changing the way we talk about and describe our collections. #SCURLEDI

Approachability is key as an EDI Officer - everyone should feel comfortable to ask questions and make suggestions for training sessions e.g. "everything you ever wanted to know about...." #SCURLEDI

Measuring recruitment and retention of staff from minority groups, and those with protected characteristics, in your organisation is one way to begin looking at how well you are supporting EDI. #SCURLEDI

Diane Rasmussen Pennington (@infogamerist) of @EdinburghNapier (& @CilipMDG chair) begins with 'What is quality *ethical* metadata?' drawing on a presentation from last years' @UKSG Conference with @ConcettaLaSpada, me, & @abugseye.
Slides at tinyurl.com/yndc6c8x
#SCURLEDI

@infogamerist @EdinburghNapier @CilipMDG @UKSG @ConcettaLaSpada @abugseye The Cataloguing Code of Ethics can be found at sites.google.com/view/catalogin…
There are specific statements within the Code that emphasize the importance of #EDI both in terms of creation of metadata & in the treatment of metadata creators in the workplace #SCURLEDI #critcat

@infogamerist speaks about @OCLC Research Report "Reimagine Descriptive Workflows" (2022) which directly addresses the organisational shifts, changes to operational workflows, & the professional & personal development needed to implement #EDI #SCURLEDI
oclc.org/research/areas…

@infogamerist @OCLC @infogamerist:
"#Metadata is at the centre of the #Library ; #Metadata is at the centre of the #University"
How we describe library collections and resources matters; the language and terminology in our catalogues and discovery layers matters #MetadataMatters #critcat
#SCURLEDI

@infogamerist @OCLC "The library is a dynamic site for the possibility of new knowledge as well as a passive storehouse that provides access to individual facts" (G. Radford)
Libraries are not neutral; collection-building, description & access have an impact on knowledge #SCURLEDI

Ann Cameron, Moving Image Curator @natlibscot speaks about a project to implement inclusive description of moving image at the National Library of Scotland #SCURLEDI

@natlibscot Since April 2019 staff @natlibscot have more than tripled the number of records for items in the moving image archive - but there is imperfect description including problematic language from older or externally sourced records #SCURLEDI

It is important for staff to engage with & communicate with diverse audiences to improve catalogue descriptions, & develop a policy statement regarding changing problematic language & terminology in bibliographic description #SCURLEDI

Ann speaks about @carissa_chew's work on Inclusive Terminology @natlibscot as part of an Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Internship that ran from September 2020 to June 2021. collectionstrust.org.uk/resource/inclu…
#SCURLEDI #EDI #critcat

@carissa_chew @natlibscot @natlibscot have developed content warning statements for items in the moving image archive to contextualise any problematic images or language that may appear in the videos or films in the collection #SCURLEDI

@carissa_chew @natlibscot Reviewing language in the catalogue for the moving image archive took 9 months & c.14,000 records were assessed & revised - the next step is to assess externally supplied metadata , particularly as the appropriateness of terminology can differ across geographic regions #SCURLEDI

@carissa_chew @natlibscot Future work @natlibscot will include a Metadata Description Terminology Group & developing a library-wide policy statement on language and terminology in the catalogue. #SCURLEDI

@natlibscot is developing how it applies content advisory statements for different types of archival materials, particularly for moving image items -the idea is not to censor but to contextualise & prewarn the user about problematic language or images in the collection #SCURLEDI

@natlibscot Now for the #SCURLEDI Discussion panel on the Politics of Metadata chaired by Joseph Marshall (Chair of @SCURLScottish Collections & Metadata Group and Associate Director of Collection Management @natlibscot)

@natlibscot @SCURLScottish The panellists today are:
Diane M. Rasmussen Pennington @infogamerist
Duncan Chappell @DuncanChappell
Dr Leo Konstantelos @lkonstantelos &
Andrew McAinsh @andy_mcainsh
#SCURLEDI #EDI #libraries #metadata #ethics

@natlibscot @SCURLScottish @infogamerist @DuncanChappell @lkonstantelos @andy_mcainsh @DuncanChappell speaks about advocacy for EDI initiatives and that having the student voice on your side can help to get senior leaders to prioritise this work - it is perhaps easier at smaller institutions where staff have strong personal relationships with leadership? #SCURLEDI

Equally, links with local communities can help to garner support & momentum for EDI initiatives; @lkonstantelos refers to his previous work in Melbourne, Australia which involved indigenous communities #SCURLEDI

@infogamerist says "Join your local Metadata Group!" - that way we can work together on #EDI initiatives that involve #metadata & #cataloguing - @cigscot & @CilipMDG would love to have you on board! #SCURLEDI

A question about #MetadataSharing and the need for common #Standards, in particular #SubjectHeadings - if we locally change our terminology to be more inclusive do we move to a point where we can no longer share our records & be interoperable with others? #SCURLEDI

@AndyMcAinsh responds saying that libraries can lobby for change on the macro scale (eg to LCSH via NACO & SACO funnels) as well as making changes at the local level. - But change can be slow & unsatisfactory so local changes will always be necessary #SCURLEDI #changethesubject

This is the balance between 'quick wins' locally and 'long term change' globally - ultimately if the terminology in an LCSH is inappropriate or offensive, individual libraries have the power to decide not to use it, even if the LoC is slow to change it. #SCURLEDI

@lkonstantelos speaks about #metadata over time - altering records retrospectively is time-consuming & can be expensive, there is a burden on us today to apologise for the terminology used in the past; should we alter/change this terminology or simply contextualise it? #SCURLEDI

@lkonstantelos We can add extensions, content advisories, external contextual information to our metadata as a way of practising EDI & #ethicalcataloguing - we have to accept that there will always be subjectivity & bias in bibliographic description & our use of terminology #SCURLEDI

@lkonstantelos There is scope to bring together #ethicalcataloguing and #EDI with technical skills development - if your library is using tools like @reese_terry's #MarcEdit to make changes to terminology in bib records then share what you are doing with the community #SCURLEDI

@lkonstantelos @reese_terry There is also a need to communicate the importance of EDI in #metadata to our system providers, content suppliers & vendors, & the external creators & suppliers of library metadata that we interact with (such as @OCLC & @bibdsl ) - this is easier if we work together! #SCURLEDI

@lkonstantelos @reese_terry @OCLC @bibdsl We now move to the #SCURLEDI Keynote "@ALALibrary / @ARLnews Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity: A Framework" with DeLa Dos and Mark Puente, with contributions in absentia from Christina Fuller-Gregory

@lkonstantelos @reese_terry @OCLC @bibdsl @ALALibrary @ARLnews Building Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity framework helps build inclusive cultures within libraries... through guidelines on development & implementation of organizational policies & professional practices that support diverse libraries with a diverse workforce #SCURLEDI

@lkonstantelos @reese_terry @OCLC @bibdsl @ALALibrary @ARLnews Work on Building Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity began via 4 Developing Working Groups covering a Survey, Glossary, Data & Competencies and the Framework itself #SCURLEDI

The Framework is the grounding needed to effect change in thinking & behaviour & includes:
1. addressing & interrogating how white supremacy, white privilege & racism show up in libraries
2. accountability, assessment & implementation
#SCURLEDI

3. building cross-sector cultural proficiency; influencing & affecting change in other areas
4. antiracist leadership
#SCURLEDI

There are Four Competencies within the Framework that intersect within EDI/DEI initiatives:
- Awareness of Racial Identity
- Recognizing Manifestations of Racism
- Analysis of Racialized Outcomes
- Commitment to Countering Racism
#SCURLEDI #EDI

There should also be a recognition of the emotional labour implicit in being tasked with EDI work, specifically for BIPOC individuals, as well as of the need to tackle both individual & systems-based biases #SCURLEDI #EDI

What's next with implementation of the Framework?
Each Library Association has to develop strategies within their respective contexts; implementation & application of the Framework involves engaging with & supporting members
#SCURLEDI

Implementation of the Framework requires cooperative administration while exploring opportunities for action. - It's not enough to raise awareness; we need to actively close the equity gap!
The ARL DEI Institute Planning Grant should help to move this forward.
#SCURLEDI

You can find out more about the Joint ALA/ARL Building Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework at: ala.org/pla/initiative…
#SCURLEDI #EDI #DEI

Thanks to @SCURLScottish EDI Network, @cigscot, and everyone involved in today's conference 👏👏
#SCURLEDI

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