1/ Welcome back #medlibs, #critlib, #critcat, and other folks for part 2 of my what's new for #2023MeSH thread. ICYMI, the original thread:
https://twitter.com/tcshields/status/1600570468284645377
2/ As I noted in the previous #2023MeSH thread, there's a lot of new terms under Population Groups, which is why this is getting its own thread.
https://twitter.com/tcshields/status/1600570474513186825
3/ Before I get into #2023MeSH though, I think it's important to provide some context on why there are so many new terms and changes. I'm going to cover a brief timeline. Apologies in advance, because I may have missed or overlooked people and events along the way.
4/ #2023MeSH In my #2022MeSH thread from Nov 2021, I noted that there was a shift in preferred term changes for multiple groups, including African Continental Ancestry Group-> Blacks
https://twitter.com/tcshields/status/1462813847228715008
5/ #2023MeSH A few months after that (Feb 2022) @lissertations pointed out that because of the changes, Aboriginal Australians are now excluded from MeSH.
https://twitter.com/lissertations/status/1495893166243074051
6/ In May 2022, @LibGirl09, prompted by tweet from @NoetheMatt (
https://twitter.com/NoetheMatt/status/1524743814442856451), pointed out how this terminology shift was problematic. There was a lot of justified anger from folks. #2023MeSH
https://twitter.com/LibGirl09/status/1524804803779608576
7/ #2023MeSH @wonderbrarian had a fantastic thread that connected some dots and pointed out issues (new and ongoing) with changing MeSH
https://twitter.com/wonderbrarian/status/1525134374806511617
8/ #2023MeSH A group formed shortly after in early June 2022, produced and sent "Open Letter to NLM Regarding MeSH Term Changes", released on MLA's website and archived in the UNLV repository: digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/lib_articles/7…
9/ #2023MeSH NLM responded, and key group members responded to the response. (I know this is confusing, but stick with it.) That's outlined here, with links to letter: mlanet.org/blog/nlm-respo…
10/ #2023MeSH NLM hosted a listening session in June 2022, recording here nlm.nih.gov/oet/ed/mesh/of…
11/ Side note, there are 2 upcoming sessions planned in Jan 2023 covering #2023MeSH. For more details and links to register, see nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/…
12/ Other meetings, discussions, and such happened besides that, and continues. Many, many folks on here have been involved to varying degrees. I suspect a lot of the changes we see in #2023MeSH is because of that work.
13/ Many gave their time, emotional labor, and expertise to advocate and advance changes to #2023MeSH and beyond. I won't try to tag everyone because I know I'll miss some. But know that I recognize the work you've done, public or not, and I see it for the gift it is. Thank you.
14/ These screenshots show the evolution over the years of this subset of MeSH, culminating with the latest #2023MeSH. You can see there is significant additions this year – from preferred term shifts to new terms to reorganizing to (if you dig in) definitions / scope notes. 
15/ Let's take a look at some specific terms, starting with (new for #2023MeSH) Black People, which includes Black or African American as a narrower term:
16/ Look: I'm a middle-aged white woman, so it is not my place to say this is fixed, good, and no problems here. I think there are still problems. But I also think #2023MeSH is at least a positive step forward.
17/ You'll see very problematic entry terms, even in #2023MeSH. IMO, those are a necessary evil, because that stigmatizing, offensive language has been used in the medical literature. Unfortunately, controlled vocabulary has to account for that.
18/ I highly recommend this thoughtful thread by @alisonburnis on using stigmatizing language in searches, and the responses from others.
https://twitter.com/alisonburnis/status/1524064602564308992
19/ Breaking down the other new groups added under Population Groups, most seem to be geographically centric. #2023MeSH adds African People with narrower terms.
20/ Another new term for #2023MeSH is Asian People, with narrower terms. Again, there is offensive, stigmatizing language with entry terms. The definition acknowledges it as well.
22/ #2023 Central American People - note previous indexing as Central America.
27/ #2023MeSH fixes the (inadvertent?) removal of Aboriginal Australians (pointed out by @lissertations, noted up thread) under Oceanians. Maori get their own term under Pacific Island People, adding to Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, new last year.
29/ Potentially controversial #2023MeSH addition: White People and the narrower term White. IMO, this is a necessary group that help30/ s de-centralize white as default. We will have to see how it works in practice.
30/ Even if things aren't perfect in #2023MeSH, it's encouraging to see that there have been changes, most appearing to be directly related to feedback from the #medlibs community and other invested stakeholders.
31/ In case you want proof that this work matters, I want to highlight this quote taken from mlanet.org/p/cm/ld/fid=11…
(fresh off the presses, too - just posted to MLA's blog today and coauthored by @wonderbrarian and @DiversityFellow)...
(fresh off the presses, too - just posted to MLA's blog today and coauthored by @wonderbrarian and @DiversityFellow)...
32/ "The content of your letter was indeed taken into consideration, as the 2022 review cycle was coming to a close. The inputs from the Hispanic/Latinx Inclusive Terminologies Project [@medlibslatinx] directly influenced some of the new terminology in the upcoming [#2023MeSH]."
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