2021/09/20 by Juliet Hardesty, Juliet L. Hardesty, Allison Nolan · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Computer Science · Social Sciences · #Library Science and Information Systems #Translation Studies and Practices #Wikis in Education and Collaboration
paper · pdf · doi:10.6017/ital.v40i3.13053
openalex publication_date 2021/09/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Controlled vocabularies used in cultural heritage organizations (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) are a helpful way to standardize terminology but can also result in misrepresentation or exclusion of systemically marginalized groups. Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is one example of a widely used yet problematic controlled vocabulary for subject headings. In some cases, systemically marginalized groups are creating controlled vocabularies that better reflect their terminology. When a widely used vocabulary like LCSH and a controlled vocabulary from a marginalized community are both available as linked data, it is possible to incorporate the terminology from the marginalized community as an overlay or replacement for outdated or absent terms from more widely used vocabularies. This paper provides a use case for examining how the Homosaurus, an LGBTQ+ linked data controlled vocabulary, can provide an augmented and updated search experience to mitigate bias within a system that only uses LCSH for subject headings.