Changing Depictions of Persons in Library Practice: Spirits, Pseudonyms, and Human Books

Dobreski, Brian; Kwaśnik, Barbara H.

doi:10.5771/0943-7444-2017-8-656

Cited by 11 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Resource Description and Access (RDA) was developed with an eye toward such data-sharing models, and thus includes more affordances and opportunities for recording data. For instance, unlike previous cataloging rules, RDA allows for the recording of data such as profession/field of work and gender when describing a person (Dobreski and Kwasnik, 2017). Dobreski and Kwasnik (2017) note that such additions shift authority records away from their previous focus on names and/or headings to representing “more complete identities” (p. 11).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, unlike previous cataloging rules, RDA allows for the recording of data such as profession/field of work and gender when describing a person (Dobreski and Kwasnik, 2017). Dobreski and Kwasnik (2017) note that such additions shift authority records away from their previous focus on names and/or headings to representing “more complete identities” (p. 11). However, these recent additions have not escaped criticism.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Metadata for diversity

Clarke¹,

Schoonmaker

2019

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate what metadata elements for access points currently exist to represent diverse library reading materials, either in libraries or from external sources, as well as what metadata elements for access points are currently not present but are necessary to represent diverse library reading materials. Design/methodology/approach A field scan of thirteen contemporary metadata schemas identified elements that might serve as potential access points regarding the diversity status of resource creators as well as topical or thematic content. Elements were semantically mapped using a metadata crosswalk to understand the intellectual and conceptual space of the elements. Element definitions and application of controlled vocabularies were also examined where possible to offer an additional context. Findings Metadata elements describing gender, occupation, geographic region, audience and age currently exist in many schemas and could potentially be used to offer access to diverse library materials. However, metadata elements necessary to represent racial, ethnic, national and cultural identity are currently not present in specific forms necessary for enabling resource access and collection assessment. The lack of distinct elements contributes to the implicit erasure of marginalized identities. Originality/value The search for metadata describing diversity is a first step toward enabling more systematic access to diverse library materials. The need for systematic description of diversity to make visible and promote diverse materials is highlighted in this paper. Though the subject of this paper is library organization systems and, for clarity, uses terms specific to the library profession, the issues present are relevant to all information professionals and knowledge organization systems.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metadata for diversity

Clarke¹,

Schoonmaker

2019

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“…More than just improving access, a more concerted utilization of multiple warrant types in bibliographic description may be the more ethical choice as well. The ethical implications of where to assign authority in determining names are a common thread in the literature on warrant (Beghtol, 1986; Olson, 2001; Smiraglia, 2009), and are of particular significance for identifying and naming persons (Dobreski and Kwaśnik, 2018). More conscientious incorporation of use, cultural, and autonomous warrants in such instances may better uphold human values in information while more accurately reflecting usages that have become common.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Common usage as warrant in bibliographic description

Dobreski

2019

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Purpose Within standards for bibliographic description, common usage has served as a prominent design principle, guiding the choice and form of certain names and titles. In practice, however, the determination of common usage is difficult and lends itself to varying interpretations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the presence and role of common usage in bibliographic description through an examination of previously unexplored connections between common usage and the concept of warrant. Design/methodology/approach A brief historical review of the concept of common usage was conducted, followed by a case study of the current bibliographic standard Resource Description and Access (RDA) employing qualitative content analysis to examine the appearances, delineations and functions of common usage. Findings were then compared to the existing literature on warrant in knowledge organization. Findings Multiple interpretations of common usage coexist within RDA and its predecessors, and the current prioritization of these interpretations tends to render user perspectives secondary to those of creators, scholars and publishers. These varying common usages and their overall reliance on concrete sources of evidence reveal a mixture of underlying warrants, with literary warrant playing a more prominent role in comparison to the also present scientific/philosophical, use and autonomous warrants. Originality/value This paper offers new understanding of the concept of common usage, and adds to the body of work examining warrant in knowledge organization practices beyond classification. It sheds light on the design of the influential standard RDA while revealing the implications of naming and labeling in widely shared bibliographic data.

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“…Despite the diversity of their intended settings and applications, descriptive standards in the cultural heritage domain prescribe and define a number of similar data elements, particularly for persons (Dobreski & Kwaśnik, 2017). For example, personal names, titles, and dates are common across cultural heritage standards.…”

Section: Variant Names For Personsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a value‐analytic approach to information standards

Dobreski

2018

Proc. Assoc. Info. Sci. Tech.

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While developments in information technology enable exciting new potentials, they may, in the process, inadvertently violate important values such as autonomy or privacy. Responsible, ethical approaches to technology warrant the use of critical perspectives in evaluating our technological practices and artifacts. Key among such artifacts are information standards, influential documents that represent and perpetuate community agreements on ideal practice. In critically examining standards, values represent a promising conceptual lens. This paper advances the use of value analysis on information standards, particularly those devoted to knowledge organization. Value analysis is a methodological approach that guides the elicitation of values from artifacts. Two case studies demonstrate the application of value analysis to knowledge organization standards and their resulting data, and show how values and their implications can be discerned from these information artifacts. Value analysis must next be extended beyond standards as documents to examine the fuller ecosystem within which information standards are situated and enacted in order to fully understand their implications, uphold important community values, and maintain ethical information practices.

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Changing Depictions of Persons in Library Practice: Spirits, Pseudonyms, and Human Books

Cited by 11 publications

References 5 publications

Metadata for diversity

Metadata for diversity

Common usage as warrant in bibliographic description

Toward a value‐analytic approach to information standards

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