Retroactive Addition of Homosaurus: An Evaluation (November 2025)

Beginning in Fall 2021, Emory Libraries began collaboration with Backstage Library Works to test an automated process of converting Library of Congress Subject headings to Homosaurus terms. The project aimed to evaluate the results of the Backstage conversion process, to discuss how useful retroactive addition of Homosaurus terms will be for Emory users by enhancing the discoverability of LGBTQ resources, and to offer recommendations for a sustainable, ongoing process of adding Homosaurus terms to bibliographic records. Assessment of the conversion was conducted by a diverse team of volunteer librarians and PhD students whose experience contributed perspectives from technical services, user services, subject matter practitioners, and collection development. After implementation it became clear that additional changes to the automated process and ongoing maintenance of the crosswalk were required to ensure meaningful automated application of Homosaurus terms.

This webinar will introduce details of the conversion evaluation process, describe the testing and assessment methods of the conversion results, outline the proposed recommendations for the process implementation and other possible strategies of retroactive addition of Homosaurus terms to bibliographic records. It will also cover post implementation review and ongoing maintenance required for this type of project. Though this project is limited to Homosaurus, the same strategies could be applied to implementing other alternative subject vocabularies.

 

Learning Outcomes: 

At the end of the webinar, attendees will be able to:

• Design a workflow to assess quality of retrospective automated conversion of Library of Congress subject terms to other vocabulary;
• Develop strategies for retroactive subject enhancement of bibliographic records in specific subject areas or for specific populations; and
• Develop and lead a multidisciplinary team in evaluating the results of a conversion and metadata suitability, in general.

 

Who Should Attend: Catalogers, metadata professionals, and technical services managers.

 

Presenters:

Brinna Michael (they/them) is the Visual Resources Metadata Librarian at Cornell University Library. Their professional interests include reparative description, metadata consultation and education, metadata in the digital humanities, and digital access to visual materials. Michael has an MS in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a BA in Classical Civilizations from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Sofia Slutskaya (she/her) is the Head of Resource Description at Emory University Woodruff Library. Over the years, Sofia has held a variety of positions in both public and technical services. Her research interests include staff training, cataloging print and electronic materials, e-resource management, and e-book acquisitions.

Tech Requirements