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An alternative perspective on cataloging and classification in libraries
Sharing a discussion board post I wrote for my classmates in library school
Thoughts on the context that catalogs and classification schemes were created in
One of the biggest issues with catalogs and classification schemes is that they’re created by historically, inherently biased systems.
There needs to be a complete overhaul or extra consideration for terms that may be outdated or considered insensitive to marginalized populations (like the “illegal alien” category that we discussed a while back).
There needs to be a contextual analysis of the environment where these cataloging standards were developed, and consequently, a decolonization or revision of what these classification schemes represent.
I have noticed, as an example, that Christianity in the Dewey Decimal System or in Inspirational fiction plays a huge role, and other religions get sidelined or receive less attention.
Furthermore, you don’t need to look up “white” when conducting race-related studies because whiteness is assumed. Other racial categories, on the other hand, exist separately, often on the margins. (This was an issue…
