[DCRM-L] Seeking help finding a better subject line: It's someone else's class

[Karen Attar]

I missed the second apologetic email and am writing in support of Staci, and of you, Erin.

I wonder whether in thinking about diversity and cataloguing we might want to think beyond the visible to neurodiversity.  Cataloguing plays to neurodiverse strengths: e.g. accuracy and attention to detail; ability to focus; excellent memory (for rules); adherence to rules, while needing to understand the reason for rules.

This would mean a speaker admitting to neurodiversity, which not everybody wishes to do.

Best wishes,
Karen

Dr Karen Attar
Senate House Library, Univ. of London
Malet St
London
WC1E 7HU
020 7862 8472
http://research.sas.ac.uk/ies/fellow/516/dr-karen-attar/

The University of London is an exempt charity in England and Wales.
________________________________
From: DCRM-L <dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu> on behalf of Ross, Staci L <STR51 at pitt.edu>
Sent: 05 April 2022 22:12
To: eblake at folger.edu <eblake at folger.edu>; DCRM Users' Group <dcrm-l at lib.byu.edu>
Subject: Re: [DCRM-L] Seeking help finding a better subject line: It's someone else's class


Hi Erin,



I’ve been meaning to respond to this message for some time—not to volunteer, but to (hopefully) assuage your worries. (I really hope the responses weren’t negative or disrespectful.) Please don’t discount the impact you have on inclusive cataloging practices and the unique stories you can share with new catalogers. I’ve had the benefit of being encouraged, guided, and taught by some of the greatest librarians and catalogers I’ve ever known—and they’ve all looked like they “came straight out of Central Casting in response to a call for a Rare Materials Cataloger” (lol). Though we only worked briefly together on the CV for Prejudicial Materials group, I’ve felt welcomed and encouraged by you and your helpful messages on DCRM-L.



I appreciate what you tried to do here (and actually chuckled at your original post). There are a lot of catalogers who still aren’t very comfortable talking about diversity (or the lack thereof) in libraries. I’ve noticed this a lot in my work with the African American Subject Funnel. But keep speaking your truth and trying to elevate others!



TL;DR version: You’re amazing! Don’t discount the great work that you and other white lady librarians have done to make our profession more inclusive! ??



Hope you’re well and see you on the listservs,

Staci



---

Staci Ross (she/her)

Cataloging/Metadata Librarian

Metadata and Discovery Unit

University of Pittsburgh

str51 at pitt.edu<mailto:str51 at pitt.edu>

*In-Office: Tuesdays and Thursdays





From: DCRM-L <dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu> On Behalf Of Erin Blake
Sent: Wednesday, February 9, 2022 4:32 PM
To: DCRM Users' Group <dcrm-l at lib.byu.edu>
Subject: [DCRM-L] Seeking help finding a better subject line: It's someone else's class



My clumsy message missed the point.



I don't teach a cataloging class. I'm a random rare materials cataloger who happened to end up on a random professor's contacts list for a once-a-year thing where I talk with her general cataloging class about what it's like to be a rare materials cataloger.



Posting to DCRM-L instead of referring the professor directly to rare materials catalogers I know who self-identify with visibly or aurally marginalized communities was meant to avoid putting people I know on the spot.



Long story short, I blew it.



With apologies,



Erin



______________________
Erin Blake, Ph.D.  |  Senior Cataloger  |  Folger Shakespeare Library  |  201 E. Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC, 20003  |  eblake at folger.edu<mailto:eblake at folger.edu>  |  www.folger.edu<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2F-t5RCjRgpBtArRXC7R7_2%3Fdomain%3Durldefense.com&data=04%7C01%7CKaren.Attar%40london.ac.uk%7Cd227e3df196141a14bc908da17491d8e%7C185280ba7a0042ea940819eafd13552e%7C0%7C0%7C637847900171942071%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=Bow3lKtFEf0XYplwGHbyBONZCahLZ605%2F8PhpaA5MWc%3D&reserved=0>   |  Pronouns: she/her/hers





From: DCRM-L <dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu<mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu>> On Behalf Of Erin Blake
Sent: Wednesday, February 9, 2022 10:51 AM
To: DCRM Users' Group <dcrm-l at lib.byu.edu<mailto:dcrm-l at lib.byu.edu>>
Subject: [DCRM-L] Seeking demographic alternative to myself for Zoom meeting with cataloging class



Hello! Those of you who know me personally know that I look and sound like I came straight out of Central Casting in response to a call for a Rare Materials Cataloger: white, middle-aged, grey-haired, female, Canadian accent, British surname.... heck, at this very moment I'm even wearing a grey wool cardigan that I crocheted myself. The only thing keeping me from completely disappearing into the stereotype is that I don't have a cat.



In the past, I've been the enthusiastic representative of Rare Materials Cataloging for the "Guest Speaker" session of an online cataloging class. Catalogers from all sorts of different professional niches each have a 15- to 20-minute time slot where they introduce themselves, say a few things about their type of work, then take questions from the class.



I'm happy to continue in this role, but for the sake of the profession, I'm really hoping to find a replacement who doesn't look and sound the way I do.



This year's session is Tuesday, 19 April. The class runs from 6:30 pm to 9 pm Eastern, but you only have to be online for your slot.



Please contact me directly at eblake at folger.edu<mailto:eblake at folger.edu> or eblakedc at gmail.com<mailto:eblakedc at gmail.com> if you're interested, or if you know of someone the professor might want to consider.



Thanks,



Erin
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