Hello ALA Councilors,
I'm excited to see this new resolution to come to Council II:
ALA CD#44 Resolution on replacing the Library of Congress Subject Heading "Illegal aliens" with "Undocumented immigrants". It is an issue that I am working to bring the changes to my Libraries and also in my work with OCLC.
I would like to thank the resolution's mover, Kimberly A. Patton, ALSC Division Councilor, and seconder: Ed Garcia, Executive Board.
If it's not too late, I would also like to add my name, Anchalee Panigabutra-Roberts, Councilor At-Large, as a seconder, as well.
I also have a question, if the mover and seconder had considered proposing the change of the subject, '
Aliens' to
'Noncitizens'.
The current result clause in the resolution reads:
Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA), on behalf of its members: urges the Library of Congress to change the subject heading 'Illegal aliens' to 'Undocumented immigrants'. I would like to see this addition/amendment:
and to change the subject heading 'Aliens' to 'Noncitizens'.
Here is some background information. The Library of Congress considered this change in March 22, 2016:
https://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/illegal-aliens-decision.pdfHowever, the Congress took up this issue with the result in the continuing usage of this term as shown in the current usage here:
Aliens: http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85003545Variants Aliens--Legal status, laws, etc
Enemy aliens
Expatriates
Foreign citizens (Aliens)
Foreign population
Foreign residents
Foreigners
Noncitizens Resident aliens
Unnaturalized foreign residents
Here is more background on the above issue and the Congress's final decision that resulted in LC's continuing usage of the above biased terms:
https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=library-of-congress-drops-illegal-alien-subject-heading-provokes-backlash-legislation For an additional context, here is a list of related subjects that catalogers have been advocating for changes:
- Aliens >> Noncitizens
- Illegal Aliens >> Undocumented immigrants
- Alien detention centers >> Immigrant detention centers
- Children of illegal aliens >> Children of undocumented immigrants
- Illegal alien children >> Undocumented immigrant children
- Illegal aliens in literature >> Undocumented immigrants in literature
- Women illegal aliens >> Women undocumented immigrants
(From the webinar: Radical Cataloging: Using alternative subject headings locally to promote inclusiveness and diversity (2018):
https://cslinsession.cvlsites.org/past/radical-cataloging-using-alternative-subject-headings-locally-to-promote-inclusiveness-and-diversity/ )
I sent an inquiry to the ALA Resolutions Committee re: the amendment, but I would like to hear from Kimberly and Ed on their thoughts about this addition.
I'd also welcome all my colleagues in the Council's input on this addition.
Respectfully,
Joy~
Anchalee (Joy) Panigabutra-RobertsCouncilor At-Large
American Library Association
Head of Cataloging
Associate Professor
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
The University of Tennessee Libraries
865-974-5952
apanigab@utk.edu------------------------------
Anchalee Panigabutra-Roberts
Head of Cataloging
University of Tennessee Libraries
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