Inclusive Collections, Inclusive Libraries is an RLUK programme of events that aims to foster conversation around decolonisation and inclusive practice in collecting, describing, presenting, and engaging with content in research library collections. It seeks to raise awareness about the opportunities and challenges of dealing with, contextualising, and engaging with offensive collections while also identifying and sharing examples of good practice.
Practical interventions in collection acquisition, description, and presentation to foster a more inclusive library environment at VU Amsterdam
Wednesday 23 October, 14:00 – 15:00 (BST), 15:00 – 16:00 (CEST/SAST), 16:00 – 17:00 (EEST), 06:00 – 07:00 (PDT), 09:00 – 10:00 (EDT), 21:00 – 22:00 (AWST/CST)
How can libraries effectively contribute to the process of decolonization? What domains should we focus on and what actions can we undertake?
Like numerous European university libraries, VU Amsterdam struggles with the inherent colonial biases in the ways they collect, describe and present their materials. Their collections are biased towards western values and perspectives, lacking important but marginalised voices and containing outdated and offensive metadata. This directly influences students’ first contacts with academia. What do their collections say what good research is and who is allowed to participate in academia? VU Amsterdam has one of the most culturally diverse student populations in The Netherlands. Many students and staff might not feel represented and at home in our library while searching our online catalogue or browsing our shelves.
In this presentation, Michèle Meijer and Esther Nijland will draw from the experience of their working group ‘Decolonization and collections’ to underline recent research’s important conclusions that despite being rooted in colonialism, libraries can contribute to the decolonization process
- through practical interventions in their collection acquisition, description, and presentation processes;
- by seeking sustainable collaborations with students and staff as well as colleagues from other libraries;
- by helping spread awareness about decolonization and supporting diversity and decolonization initiatives within their own universities.
They will first outline the practical interventions they (aim to) carry out for more inclusivity at their library, focusing on the domains of collection acquisition, description, and presentation. They will discuss their progress, in particular with respect to the description of their collections, explaining in detail how they identified harmful subject headings and replaced them with respectful alternatives by using a tool from OCLC. They will then address the challenges they are facing in creating more diverse and inclusive collections and how they think seeking collaborations on multiple levels and spreading awareness about decolonization can help overcome them. By discussing concrete examples and challenges, they aim to foster an open discussion, inviting colleagues across the UK and beyond to share their own experiences and ideas.