Actions
Where possible, we will implement changes to existing local catalogue records and new catalogue records that we create at McMaster.
We will continue working with our partners in the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL), who make up our Omni partners, and other groups to advocate for more respectful descriptive policies and practices in cataloguing and classification to be applied to catalogue information originating outside McMaster.
This work is an iterative process, and we will add to this list as steps are taken.
We welcome your thoughts and input on this work and encourage you to reach out to us if you have questions, concerns, or encounter harmful language in Omni.
Examination of Legacy Cataloguing Practices
| Action | Status |
| Stay informed of advancements to NIKLA’s Respectful Terminology Project. Active participation where possible (following the recommendations that come from this project, attending membership meetings, volunteer opportunities). | 2022- |
| Participate in the OCUL Metadata Management committees that guide shared cataloguing and metadata policies. | 2022- |
| McMaster University Libraries contribute seed funding to NIKLA’s Respectful Terminology Project. | 2023 |
| Participate in OCUL’s Decolonizing Description Implementation Working Group. | 2023- |
| Participate in Homosaurus collaborative term development. | 2023- |
Participate in the development of new OCUL policy and procedures to add standardized vocabulary identifying accessibility features of library resources (e.g., large print, braille, captioning, adaptive features, etc.) to catalogue records across the Omni partnership. This policy aims to support more effective searching and faceting of search results for users seeking specific formats or accessibility features. Implement at McMaster following review and approval by the Omni partner libraries. | In progress, Fall 2025 |
Adjustments to Catalogue Records at McMaster University Libraries
| Action | Status |
| Homosaurus and other diverse subject headings are retained in records imported to McMaster’s catalogue and are visible and searchable in Omni. | 2022- |
| Implement measures to address the politically motivated renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and Mt. Denali in the Library of Congress Subject Headings, retaining their internationally recognized names. | 2025- |
