LCSH & SACO April 2016: Rejecting Photography of pets and Decentering...Women

Highlights from the April 2016 SACO editorial meeting and LCSH monthly list.

SACO, emphases theirs

Photography of pets

The only support provided for this proposal is “Hawaiʻi's pets, 2011,” which is not sufficient. The proposal should include information from the work that supports the heading being proposed. The proposal may be resubmitted.

Proof that SACO is comprised of heartless villains. I mean, what more do you need to know than "photography of pets"?!?

Photo from Pet Photography Oahu, Honolulu Dog Photographer

Speaking of villains…

Villains

This proposal originally appeared on Tentative List 1 (2016), the Summary of Decisions for which stated,

The only supporting information provided is the title, which translates to “Heroes and villains.”  LCSH contains several headings for Villains in [art, literature, etc.] but this proposal could be simply cataloging by title.  Evidence should be provided that the work is about persons who practice villainy in general.  If the heading is really needed, the cataloger should consider what the relationship between Villains and the existing headings Brigands and robbers; Thieves; Rogues and vagabonds, etc., should be.  The proposal may be resubmitted.

The proposal now includes information from the work being cataloged that indicates that several rulers are discussed, including Fidel Castro, Benito Mussolini, Napoleon Bonaparte, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Saddam Hussein. The labeling of some or all of these persons as “villains” is wholly subjective. Works of this nature have been assigned headings appropriate to the classes of persons or ethnic groups to which the persons being discussed belong. The current work being cataloged may be assigned Kings and rulers—Biography and Heads of state—Biography The proposal was not approved.

Can't argue with their reasoning on this one. I do wonder about "Kings" and rulers, though. I prefer the genderless "Heads of state" heading.

Reform Jews

The announcement for Phase 3 of the LCDGT pilot indicated that proposals will be accepted for new cataloging only (http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcdgt-acceptance-manual.html). This proposal included citations to several older works that were cataloged some time ago. The proposal was withdrawn and deleted.

It's true. There's no proof that anyone will ever write a book or create any other media warranting this heading.
 

LCSH, emphases mine

150      Jewish punk rock musicians    [May Subd Geog]    [sp2016000436](A)
550      BT Jewish rock musicians
550      BT Punk rock musicians

I'm excited about this because the author of the warrant did research at the Barnard Zine Library.

Best part of the story: Michael Croland wasn't going to write much about zines until he discovered the trove of Jewy punk zines in the Columbia catalog.

150      Parents of transgender children    [May Subd Geog]    [sp2016000194](C)
550      BT Transgender children

We have at least one zine for that at Barnard.

150      Women midwives    [May Subd Geog]    [sp2016000300](C)
550      BT Midwives
550      BT Women in medicine
150      Women nurses    [May Subd Geog]    [sp2016000330](C)
450      UF Female nurses
550      BT Nurses
550      BT Women in medicine

BREAKING: LC IS DE-DEFAULTING THE LADIES in feminized professions. Hilarious that they start with decentering women in traditional women's roles, rather than establishing, say Male basketball players.

Truth be told, though, I don't know if I'll apply these versions of the headings, vs. Midwives or Nurses. Do you think I should?

DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP TERMS

150      Comics writers    [dp2016060087](C)
072      occ
450      UF Comic book writers
450      UF Comic strip writers
450      UF Comicbook writers
450      UF Graphic novel writers
450      UF Graphic novelists
450      UF Novel writers, Graphic
450      UF Novelists, Graphic

Should I start using this? I could! But I haven't started applying 150s yet. I'm waiting to talk about it with other zine librarians at the Zine Librarians unConference in July.

150      Israelis    [dp2016060051](C)
072      nat
450      UF Yiśreʼelim
550      BT Asians

BT Asians is fascinating. I wonder why no BT Arabs.

150      Japanese Americans    [dp2015060312]
450      UF Kibei Nisei DELETE FIELD
450      UF Nisei DELETE FIELD
450      UF Sansei DELETE FIELD

Do they really have to authorize each Hypenated American group individually? Can't there be some rule that sanctions a whole class of heading at once? And why not err on the side of having a wrong heading now and again?

150      Parents of transgender people    [dp2016060040](C)
072      soc
450      UF Transgender people, Parents of
550      BT Parents 

Should I go back and add this to Hatch! Mister Sister? Also seeing now that the current abstract is problematic.

Cover from QZAP