Since 2020, the Archer Library has been working with the Saskatchewan Multitype Library Board (a Board appointed by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education) on the Saskatchewan Indigenous Subject Headings Project, and together they are modernizing terms in library catalogues related to Indigenous Peoples in Saskatchewan. This project is a response to the Canadian Federation of Library Association’s call to action #5 in its Truth and Reconciliation Report and Recommendations: “Libraries should strive to decolonize access and classification.”

The goal of the project was to work with Indigenous Peoples and groups in Saskatchewan to determine what terms are preferred and then translate those terms into subject headings to be used by all libraries in Saskatchewan, including public, post-secondary, school, and special libraries.

Dale Storie, Associate Dean (Research) at the Dr. John Archer Library, is also the Chair of the Multitype Library Board. He says that typically, library subject headings (descriptive language that people use to search) used in library catalogues make use of standardized wording developed by governing bodies such as the Library of Congress and Libraries and Archives Canada. At issue, Storie says, is that those subject headings “… often don’t incorporate the terms that Saskatchewan Indigenous Peoples would use to describe places, group names, languages or cultural practices.” In addition, he says that several of the terms that are used can be or are found to be offensive.

A technical advisory group was created, comprised of Saskatchewan library-cataloguing staff to work on the actual subject headings and updates, as well as an outreach advisory group made up of Saskatchewan Indigenous library staff to help guide the engagement sessions. Once the first round of engagement sessions were complete, the technical advisory group took the topics and terms that were discussed and linked them to existing Library of Congress subject headings, where possible. The group then made recommendations for possible subject heading replacements and enhancements based on the terminology used in the engagement sessions.

Throughout the engagement sessions and the entire project there has been guidance from Indigenous community members, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Old Ones, library staff, and provincial Ministry of Education staff.

Article source: University Communications and Marketing

“One of the themes in the Indigenous Engagement Strategic Plan is ‘Spaces and Places,’ and it’s all about promoting and facilitating welcoming and inclusive cultural spaces within the University. The Archer Library has so many of its services online now, and we want to ensure that our online presence is just as welcoming to Indigenous students and researchers as our physical buildings.”

- Dale Storie, Associate Dean (Research), Dr. John Archer Library

Full article for online version: https://www.uregina.ca/stories/2024/02/dr-john-archer-library-works-to-decolonize-terms-in-library-catalogue.html