How does a library with limited staffing address problems with legacy metadata? At [NAME] Library, the answer is to pinpoint the greatest need. In this case, we have started "Subject Heading Triage." This poster will show how we identified and remediated outdated, insensitive, and harmful subject headings in a large academic cataloging.
The project focuses on a specific pain point: "CarP" records—minimal-level entries migrated from the physical card catalog in the 1990s that have remained largely untouched. We utilized an article by Steven A Knowlton (2005) to isolate the most egregious subject headings of the 20th century. Then using a shared spreadsheet, the department located and updated these subject headings that would otherwise be missed.
Viewers will learn how to: 1. Isolate legacy record sets (like CarP) in need of remediation. 2. Prioritize remediation efforts using established scholarship. 3. Execute a "worst-first" strategy that makes the catalog more accessible despite limited resources.
