Subject headings in a historical context
The subject headings used to describe library materials, such as books and journals, have been assigned historically They have been assigned in a specific context and may therefore contain a certain bias, for example because they originate from colonial or predominantly European perspectives. Some terms no longer do justice to the people, groups or events they refer to, or are downright discriminatory.
Respectful alternatives to outdated or offensive terms
An example is the subject heading ‘invalids’, which now appears in the catalogue as ‘people with a disability’. This is a person-first approach: the person is prioritised, and is followed by a characteristic . This prevents people from being reduced to that characteristic.
The list with alternative subject headings is based, among other things, on the publication Words Matter by the National Museum of World Cultures. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has taken the lead in providing alternative subject headings for outdated or offensive terms in Dutch. Other libraries worldwide have also contributed to a joint list of alternatives.
How it works in RUQuest
When you search for ‘invalids’ in RUQuest, you will find materials in which this term appears in the title or description, as well as materials where the term has been assigned as a subject heading. In the latter case, the alternative ‘person with a disability’ appears. If you click on this subject heading, a pop-up with a brief explanation will appear. You can then choose to continue searching using the original term, so that you can still find these materials.
Original subject headings remain searchable
Offensive or outdated subject headings have not been removed from the metadata, but have been hidden. It therefore remains possible to conduct research using the originally assigned subject headings. In this way, the history of the development of the library collection remains intact, precisely so that we can continue the conversation about the prejudices and biases embedded within it.
Working together towards an inclusive library
The University Library strives to become increasingly inclusive. Have you come across offensive or outdated subject headings in RUQuest? Or do you have other ideas for making the University Library more inclusive? Please get in touch via Ask Your Librarian.
You can find more information about inclusive searching in the RUQuest LibGuide.