NASIG 2024

Program Description:
As an experienced CONSER serials cataloger who works extensively with Special Collections materials, I’ve often been asked to catalogue materials replete with content many would deem offensive. These materials include magazines featuring sexually explicit text and images as well as propaganda published by hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and American Nazi organizations.
In the process, I’ve had to establish practices for handling these materials that minimize my colleagues’ exposure to them and that protect my own emotional health. In support of the latter, I’ve developed emotional coping mechanisms which center around practicing radical empathy towards the targets of the hate group material, in large part by creating bibliographic and NACO records that clearly identify its creators while exposing the nature/intent of their work and their connections to creators of affiliated/associated work.
It’s my intention with this presentation to share the methods/coping mechanisms I’ve developed as best practices to aid others faced with the challenge of cataloging similar materials.
Learning Outcomes:
It’s my intention with this presentation to share the methods/coping mechanisms I’ve developed as best practices to aid others faced with the challenge of cataloging similar materials.