Peggy Axel, CLRC Professional Development Award Recipient, Talks About Library Juice Academy Course: Library of Congress Subject Headings and Genres

Thanks to an opportunity provided by a CLRC Professional Development Grant, I recently completed the Library Juice Academy (LJA) course, Library of Congress Subject Headings and Genres.

This is the third LJA course I have taken, and each was a valuable and productive experience. The professional instruction provided in the four-week asynchronous class included weekly lectures, a variety of required readings, exercises, quizzes, and discussion forums. The participants varied in experience, position, and location, including individuals from Australia and Canada, as well as those who worked for the Library of Congress. This added depth to the discussion forums. It was interesting to learn the perspectives of those living outside of the United States on the US-centrism of some subject headings.

As with my experience in the other LJA courses, the instruction on understanding and using LOC resources for subject headings was a game-changer. It can be frustrating and time-consuming to navigate these resources if you are unfamiliar with them. The course provided experience in using the Subject Authority Headings and the Subject Headings Manual, as well as instruction in finding the correct usage for subdivisions, genres, and forms in the vast available LOC documentation.

In addition to learning the rules for applying subject headings, the course explored the bias in subject headings and the processes used by LOC to challenge and change subject headings. This was a prevalent topic in the discussion forums. Documentaries, podcasts, and articles about libraries and institutions that have advocated for changes in LOC or worked to make changes in their local library catalogs were part of the course. It was rewarding to see that SUNY’s Change the Subject initiative was one of these resources.

The course also covered changes in cataloging to adapt to evolving technology and information, including the use of AI for cataloging, linked data, FAST headings, and BIBFRAME. I am grateful that CLRC provided this opportunity to improve my professional effectiveness and prepare for the future of cataloging through this course.