Survey: Proposal to replace LC subject heading for "Illegal aliens"

Tentative Monthly List 06a (May 20, 2016)

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SUBJECT HEADINGS TENTATIVE MONTHLY LIST 06a (May 20, 2016)

classificationweb.net

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) have occasionally been controversial, but I believe this is the first time they've been subject to Congressional action! On March 22, LC's Policy and Standards Division announced a proposal to replace the LCSH heading Illegal aliens with two terms: Noncitizens and Unauthorized immigration.

Subsequently, GOP members of the powerful House Appropriations Committee inserted a provision into an obscure bill funding the operation of Congress that would require the Library of Congress to retain the original heading for cataloging and searching purposes.

A good summary is available here.

Today the LC Policy and Standards Division sent out the following email, which includes a link to a survey accepting comments on the heading from the library community and the general public.

In response to requests from constituents who consider the phrase illegal aliens to be pejorative and disappearing from common use, the Policy and Standards Division of the Library of Congress, which maintains Library of Congress Subject Headings, has proposed that the headings Aliens and Illegal aliens both be replaced.

If approved, the heading Aliens will be replaced by Noncitizens, which is currently a Used For (UF) reference to Aliens. Illegal aliens will be replaced by two headings: Noncitizens and Unauthorized immigration. Other headings that include the word aliens or the phrase illegal aliens (e.g., Church work with aliens; Children of illegal aliens) will also be revised.

Proposals to revise Aliens, Illegal aliens, and all of the related headings appear on Tentative List 1606a, which may be accessed at https://classificationweb.net/tentative-subjects/1606a.html.

The Library of Congress is accepting comments from the library community and the general public through July 15, 2016. Because of the high volume of comments that is expected, comments will be accepted only through an online survey, the link to which is available at the top of Tentative List 1606a.

Review of the comments by the Policy and Standards Division will begin after July 15, 2016. Final disposition of the proposals will be announced later this year.

Janis L. Young Policy and Standards Division Library of Congress

I encourage you all to add your own comments!