1. How to use the Cataloguing Code of
Ethics in your day job: a hands-on
workshop
Jane Daniels & Diane Rasmussen McAdie
Cataloguing Ethics Steering Committee members UK
CILIP MDG Conference Birmingham Wednesday 6th September 2023

2. Agenda
• 13.30 Welcome & introductions
• 13.40 The Code – a brief intro
• Group work
• 14.00 - 14.25 Theme 1 Audiences,
tasks & hurdles
• 14.30 – 15.00 Break & Poster Session
• 15.00 – 15.25 Theme 2 Collaboration
• 15.30 – 15.55 Theme 3 Education, jobs
and advocacy
• Next steps – sharing ideas and feedback

3. The Code 2018 - 2023
• Inspired by Critical Cataloguing movement, DEI and Decolonisation discourses
• Recognises special responsibilities of cataloguers and metadata managers
• Complements professional codes of ethics.
• International community initiative
• Inclusive and open
• Endorsed by ALA 2021, CILIP 2022, Canadian consultation ends Dec 2023
Cataloging Ethics Steering Committee website https://sites.google.com/view/cataloging-
ethics/home?pli=1

4. Common ethical concerns
• Access to resources and metadata
• Acknowledging bias
• Advocacy
• Collaboration
• Critically applying standards
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Education and training
• Respect for agent privacy and
preferences
• Responsibility and transparency
• Understanding and meeting user
needs

5. The Code – Purpose
An ethical lens to examine cataloguing and metadata management policy and practice.
Advocates for the essential work of cataloguers in facilitating Search; Discovery;
Collection creation, development & management
Ten high level statements – Not a checklist – Standards neutral – You are already
applying the Principles!
Provides agency & empowerment for the workforce and by extension our user
communities
Intended for ALL stakeholders in the cataloguing ecosystem

6. Cataloging Ecosystem

7. Audiences, tasks, barriers
1. We catalogue resources in our collections with the end-user in mind to facilitate
access and promote discovery. Who are your users?
3. We acknowledge that we bring our biases to the workplace; therefore, we strive to
overcome personal, institutional, and societal prejudices in our work. Examining
institutional policies, procedures? Self-education?
2. We commit to describing resources without discrimination whilst respecting the
privacy and preferences of their associated agents. Enhanced discoverability: FAIR &
OPEN v CARE?

8. Group work
Audiences, Tasks & Barriers (15 mins)
Please discuss:
• Q1 How are you already applying these principles?
• Q2 Any perceived barriers?
Please record comments, suggestions, ideas on post its and add them to the flipchart.

9. Collaborations
7. We collaborate widely to support the creation, distribution, maintenance, and enrichment of
metadata in various environments and jurisdictions. What can we do better together – locally,
regionally, nationally, internationally?
4. We recognise that interoperability and consistent application of standards help our users find and
access materials. However, all standards are biased; we will approach them critically and advocate
to make cataloguing more inclusive. How can you instigate and support change?
5. We support efforts to make standards and tools financially, intellectually, and technologically
accessible to all cataloguers, and developed with evidence-based research and stakeholder input. Can
we bridge the accessibility gap by exploring open metadata standards?
10. We work with our user communities to understand their needs in order to provide relevant and
timely services. How do we make and sustain partnerships with user groups?

10. Group work
Collaborations (15 minutes)
Please discuss:
• Q1 How are you already applying these principles?
• Q2 Any perceived barriers?
Please record comments, suggestions, ideas on post its and add them to the flipchart.

11. Education, jobs, advocacy
8. We insist on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We promote
education, training, equitable pay, and a fair work environment for everyone who
catalogues so that they can continue to support search and discovery. Does your employer
have a public statement on DEI? What are your training CPD needs as service
provider or service receiver?
6. We take responsibility for our cataloguing decisions and advocate for transparency
in our institutional practices and policies. Are your cataloguing policies front-facing?
9. We advocate for the value of cataloguing work within our organisations and with
external partners. Who are your internal cataloguing champions and commercial
partners?

12. Group work
Education, jobs and advocacy (15 minutes)
Please discuss:
• Q1 How are you already applying these principles?
• Q2 Any perceived barriers?
Please record comments, suggestions, ideas on post its and add them to the flipchart.

13. Next Steps
Share:
Comments
Common themes
Suggestions
Ideas