Case Study Participant 4
1. What would you say are the soft skills or attributes and types of knowledge that are necessary for getting started with decolonisation in a role that is similar to yours?
Decolonisation from a cataloguing and discovery perspective is inclusive metadata practice, equitable discovery systems, and culturally responsive cataloguing. Necessary soft skills and attributes necessary from a cataloguing and discovery angle are, cultural sensitivity, empathy, critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability and communication.
To get started it is important to work effectively with colleagues and clearly articulate the goals and processes. Being open to change, willing to learn and implement new practices is critical whilst questioning existing systems and practices and being open to new ways of thinking. It is important to understand and respect diverse cultural perspectives and histories, ensuing colleagues can relate to and understand the experiences and viewpoints of marginalised communities.
Sensitive leadership is essential to create a safe and inclusive environment ensuring we can develop trust with a range of colleagues; including students; and where everyone can engage and feel empowered to challenge and adapt.
2. Please give examples of where soft skills and personal attributes have proven useful to you during any stage of collection-based decolonisation.
Recognising the important role that metadata plays when linking and accessing various content formats available both individually and as part of the overall discovery user experience. Listening to those individuals who are concerned about the content they are handling when cataloguing whilst seeking direction and supportive guidance. Sharing a potential solution with senior management for sign off to create Library position statement regarding academic freedom, contextualising content and the application of content warnings and inclusive cataloguing practice where feasible, all to be openly available via a public facing webpage.
Creating and leading a working group which brings together cataloguers, metadata expertise and curators from Special Collections and those working with students and communities who encounter and discover our collections as well as those who have created content warnings for various individual items or collections of curated content. Arranging regular meetings of this group to create a framework of content warning application to standardise the approach by working through examples and considering good practice whilst encouraging open conversation to improve understanding whilst empowering individuals and offering support to cataloguers encountering challenging content and language.
Gathering feedback via the Together Library Conference by leading a breakout group in the EDI initiatives session to share the approach, connect with people and gather thoughts and impact.
3. How can someone starting out in a similar role get an introduction to collection-based decolonisation and develop a basic skill-set/ knowledge/ awareness? What can this process entail? Please suggest any resources and approaches.
For metadata (cataloguing) and discovery I recommend desk research into the good practice currently available in similar institutions. Look for Collection Policies and any guidance openly available through University Library websites. Some metadata related organisations exist either to join or to question such as CILIP Metadata Discovery Group MDG Special Interest Group and Academic Libraries North ALN Metadata & Linked Data Community of Practice (if within the geographical area), others that exist are Mercian and MADS (Southern Region). Guidance can be sought for inclusive cataloguing practice, content warnings and the discovery experience, dependent on the type of format encountered. There will be differences between Library Management Systems and discovery platforms as well as formats (print, electronic, digital) and appropriate guidance for individual items versus portfolios of content.
4. How does an advanced collection-based decolonisation skillset/ expert knowledge look like from your perspective (including soft and specialised skills)?
Knowledge of metadata standards and inclusive practices, knowledge of collections development and management, understanding how technology can support decolonisation efforts, a strong grounding in ethical principles and policy development.
Leadership and advocacy, collaboration and networking, critical and reflective thinking, empathy and sensitivity and community engagement.
5. How can someone in a similar role further develop their skills/ knowledge/ awareness in collection-based decolonisation and build an expert skill-set? What can this process entail? Please suggest any resources and approaches.
From a metadata perspective, there needs to be a clear, relevant and up to date Collections Policy which incorporates cataloguing principles, failing that a metadata strategy that incorporates inclusive cataloguing principles as well as good practice and guidance must be created. Investigating relevant guidance including Cataloguing Code of Ethics.
From a discovery perspective creating and adopting clear discovery principles which underpin any discovery platform development work. Assimilating feedback for consideration alongside analytics and planned and regular User Experience UX testing. Regular communications with users.
6. Please add any other thoughts or advice you may have for those who want to develop their skills and knowledge in collection-based decolonisation.
Conscientious Bilingual Description: Treating problematic language in colonial records on the Qatar Digital Library – Archivoz.