Changing the Subject at Fondren Library: Background

Document that describes the history, structure, and usage of Library of Congress subject headings.

This page provides print-ready PDF files for the 43rd Edition of the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH). Specifically, see the I page for further information about "illegal aliens" and "immigrants."

Executive Summary by the Library of Congress from March 22, 2016 that describes the attempt to replace the "illegal aliens" subject heading.

Report from July 2016 by the CaMMS Subject Analysis Committee Working Group that "concurs with the Library of Congress decision to change the subject heading Aliens to Noncitizens, but recommends that Illegal aliens be replaced with Undocumented immigrants where appropriate. In cases where the subject heading Illegal aliens has been assigned to works about nonimmigrants, more specific terms should be assigned."

This libguide page outlines the initiative to change Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) containing the terms "illegal aliens" and "aliens" to "undocumented immigrants" at SUNY Libraries Consortia in the Alma system.

Presentation that describes the process undertaken by BookOps, the "shared technical services collaborative of NYPL and BPL."

Related: "BookOps CTS LCSH to local terms mapping" spreadsheet