The Sanford Berman School The Sanford Berman School of Catalogingof Cataloging

By Susan TiddBy Susan Tidd

Southern Connecticut State Southern Connecticut State UniversityUniversity

This paper briefly examines the cataloging philosophy of Sanford Berman, self-proclaimed heretic, and former head cataloger of Hennepin County Library in Minnesota who recognized and fought to change subject heading practices adopted and disseminated by the Library of Congress that were biased, bigoted and inaccurate. Were reforms necessary, and if so why?

What other changes have taken place and are taking place within the library profession regarding access to collections?

Sanford Berman 1933 -Sanford Berman 1933 -

Librarians as hereticsLibrarians as heretics How did librarians evolve into How did librarians evolve into

heretics? I was mildly surprised to heretics? I was mildly surprised to find that several controversial find that several controversial historical figures were librarians. historical figures were librarians.

The great lover Casanova around The great lover Casanova around the age of 50 began a career as the age of 50 began a career as the librarian for a Count in the librarian for a Count in Bohemia. Bohemia.

Mao Tse-Tung was an assistant to Mao Tse-Tung was an assistant to the chief librarian of the the chief librarian of the University of Peking. When he was University of Peking. When he was overlooked for advancement he overlooked for advancement he decided to become a communist decided to become a communist despot. despot.

On the other end of the spectrum, On the other end of the spectrum, Pope Pius XI was a librarian at the Pope Pius XI was a librarian at the College of Doctors of the College of Doctors of the Ambrosian Library in Milan and Ambrosian Library in Milan and became chief librarian. became chief librarian.

Rules for catalogingRules for cataloging

In his book, The Joy of Cataloging,

(1981) Berman says that cataloging should be based on three principles:

Intelligibility Find-ability Fairness

The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) which are widely used by librarians have been the bane of Berman’s existence for almost 35 years

Identifying the problemsIdentifying the problems Berman identified two Berman identified two

basic categories of basic categories of problems with subject problems with subject cataloging according to LC.cataloging according to LC.

First is vocabulary or First is vocabulary or terminologyterminology

Second, assignment. Second, assignment.

The vocabulary issue he divides The vocabulary issue he divides into four parts. into four parts.

First is the failure to contemporize First is the failure to contemporize or correct awkward, obsolete or or correct awkward, obsolete or bizarre forms,bizarre forms,

Second, to promptly create Second, to promptly create headings when new topics headings when new topics appear. appear.

Third, the failure to reform Third, the failure to reform headings that inaccurately headings that inaccurately portray groups, or that are portray groups, or that are obsolete.obsolete.

Fourth is the failure to promptly Fourth is the failure to promptly create new subject headings for create new subject headings for new topics, insufficient cross-new topics, insufficient cross-references and insufficient useful references and insufficient useful subheadings or multiple headings. subheadings or multiple headings.

Berman first noticed the need for revision and reform early in his career while working at the University of Zambia in the late 1960’s and came across the Library of Congress subject heading, KAFIRS, which his colleagues told him was the equivalent of using the word NIGGERS in America.

This experience sparked the beginning of his crusade for cataloging reform. In his publication, Prejudices and Antipathies: a Tract on the LC Subject Heads Concerning People (1971), he mentions some of the first headings he managed to abolish besides KAFIRS, such as JEWISH QUESTION and YELLOW PERIL.

What if?What if? What if I were an eighth grade student and had to write a What if I were an eighth grade student and had to write a

paper on the subject of YELLOW PERILpaper on the subject of YELLOW PERIL and the psychology and the psychology behind racial fear and ignorance during World War II? If I behind racial fear and ignorance during World War II? If I am not savvy as to how to describe YELLOW PERIL in am not savvy as to how to describe YELLOW PERIL in subject heading terminology, I may not be able to find the subject heading terminology, I may not be able to find the materials I need if I do not know the right subject headings. materials I need if I do not know the right subject headings.

I went to the Library of Congress catalog online to see if I I went to the Library of Congress catalog online to see if I could find what I needed to write a paper on YELLOW PERIL. could find what I needed to write a paper on YELLOW PERIL. I could not find anything using YELLOW PERIL in a subject I could not find anything using YELLOW PERIL in a subject search except for a comic book series. search except for a comic book series.

I respected Berman’s philosophy but found it lacking in I respected Berman’s philosophy but found it lacking in practical terms. Do we have to agree with and make sure practical terms. Do we have to agree with and make sure that subject headings are politically correct in order for that subject headings are politically correct in order for them to be useful? them to be useful?

Social treatise?Social treatise?

Professor Seymour Lubetzky reviewed Berman’s work, Professor Seymour Lubetzky reviewed Berman’s work, Prejudices and AntipathiesPrejudices and Antipathies and explains that “a list of and explains that “a list of subject headings is not a social treatise reflecting its subject headings is not a social treatise reflecting its author’s philosophy or point of view.” author’s philosophy or point of view.”

Berman, however, perceives a bias and bigotry by Berman, however, perceives a bias and bigotry by catalogers in applying subject headings to works and catalogers in applying subject headings to works and groups of works that do not accurately describe those groups of works that do not accurately describe those works. He cites the example:works. He cites the example:

More to the story…..More to the story….. A cataloger confronted by A cataloger confronted by

four titles on the same four titles on the same topic in which one author topic in which one author writes of “Negroes,” writes of “Negroes,” another of “Blacks,” the another of “Blacks,” the third “Afro-Americans,” third “Afro-Americans,” and the fourth “niggers” and the fourth “niggers” must choose one heading must choose one heading to embrace them all (even to embrace them all (even if the ultimate choice if the ultimate choice necessitates revision of an necessitates revision of an established, standard established, standard head). head).

Similarly, he or she must Similarly, he or she must make both a political and make both a political and intellectual decision on intellectual decision on whether to prefer whether to prefer “Hottentots” or “Khoi-“Hottentots” or “Khoi-Khoin,” “Kafirs”, or Khoin,” “Kafirs”, or “Xhosa,” the former rubric “Xhosa,” the former rubric in both instances being a in both instances being a White supremacist tab White supremacist tab while the other represents while the other represents what the people calls itself. what the people calls itself. Again, catalogers have Again, catalogers have opted for the racists’ or opted for the racists’ or subjugators’ terms. (subjugators’ terms. (Joy of Joy of CatalogingCataloging, p.67), p.67)

Changing headingsChanging headings

I began to see that the problem wasn’t with historical I began to see that the problem wasn’t with historical terms, but the biases and prejudices of those creating and terms, but the biases and prejudices of those creating and assigning the subject headingsassigning the subject headings

The problem with the subject heading JEWISH QUESTION The problem with the subject heading JEWISH QUESTION resembles the problem with the heading YELLOW PERIL. resembles the problem with the heading YELLOW PERIL. While it is an historical term, does it belong in a catalog as While it is an historical term, does it belong in a catalog as a subject heading? Berman provides an alternative to a subject heading? Berman provides an alternative to JEWISH QUESTION when he said,JEWISH QUESTION when he said,

“ “If for research purposes, it’s desirable to trace the history If for research purposes, it’s desirable to trace the history of the concept itself, however odious, a little imagination of the concept itself, however odious, a little imagination could produce an acceptable form like ‘JEWISH QUESTION’ could produce an acceptable form like ‘JEWISH QUESTION’ (ANTISEMITIC DOCTRINE).” ((ANTISEMITIC DOCTRINE).” (Subject Cataloging: Critiques Subject Cataloging: Critiques and Innovationsand Innovations, 1984. p. 187)., 1984. p. 187).

A Novel ideaA Novel idea

Berman’s philosophy and reforms Berman’s philosophy and reforms have been given merit by the have been given merit by the creation of one of the most popular creation of one of the most popular tools for librarians today, NoveList. tools for librarians today, NoveList. His creation of subject headings His creation of subject headings for fiction collections was the basis for fiction collections was the basis for NoveList, a database for for NoveList, a database for locating fiction created by EBSCO, locating fiction created by EBSCO, a widely used database by a widely used database by librarians and other users.librarians and other users.

The futureThe future

• This brings up the This brings up the question of the question of the future of cataloging. future of cataloging. Is Berman’s Is Berman’s philosophy being philosophy being threatened by new threatened by new technology and the technology and the way we use it? way we use it?

Off with their headings!Off with their headings! In a recent article by In a recent article by

Norman Oder, “The End of Norman Oder, “The End of LC Subject Headings?” he LC Subject Headings?” he remarked on the remarked on the suggestion that LC do suggestion that LC do away with subject away with subject headings in favor of more headings in favor of more free-text searching free-text searching capabilities. (capabilities. (Library Library JournalJournal, 2006, May 15, p. , 2006, May 15, p. 14-15). 14-15).

BibliobarbarismBibliobarbarism Berman opposes the idea Berman opposes the idea

and defends the LCSH and defends the LCSH concept, despite his concept, despite his criticism of LC to change criticism of LC to change and reform subject and reform subject headings when appropriate headings when appropriate and timely. In typical and timely. In typical Berman fashion he Berman fashion he defended the LCSH defended the LCSH concept and said he feared concept and said he feared “bibliobarbarism.”“bibliobarbarism.”

Cataloging & keyword searchingCataloging & keyword searching

Thomas Mann, in his article “Research at Risk” Thomas Mann, in his article “Research at Risk” discusses the importance of good online discusses the importance of good online cataloging. He compares scholarly research and cataloging. He compares scholarly research and quick internet searching. He states that LCSH quick internet searching. He states that LCSH provides “the mechanism that enables provides “the mechanism that enables researchers to recognize what they cannot researchers to recognize what they cannot specify”…specify”…

””Cataloging and classification done by Cataloging and classification done by professional librarians enable systematic professional librarians enable systematic searching, not merely desultory information searching, not merely desultory information seeking, says Mann.” .” (Library Journal, 2005, seeking, says Mann.” .” (Library Journal, 2005, July 1). July 1).

Bruce Sanders on the futureBruce Sanders on the future

““Digitized texts can be classified in exactly the same way Digitized texts can be classified in exactly the same way as books shelved in stacks, and hit lists via browse call as books shelved in stacks, and hit lists via browse call number searches can mimic the order of books in stacks number searches can mimic the order of books in stacks perfectly. With links to the digitized text, books can be perfectly. With links to the digitized text, books can be browsed in a way analogous to browsing stacks, and with browsed in a way analogous to browsing stacks, and with the same sometimes-serendipitous results. Further, the same sometimes-serendipitous results. Further, digitized texts can be browsed anywhere, anytime…” digitized texts can be browsed anywhere, anytime…” ((American LibrariesAmerican Libraries, 2005, September). , 2005, September).

The end of literacyThe end of literacy Thomas Frey, Executive Thomas Frey, Executive

Director of the DaVinci Director of the DaVinci Institute says that media Institute says that media formats are continually formats are continually disappearing. Over time he disappearing. Over time he believes we will transition believes we will transition into a verbal society. into a verbal society.

He predicts that keyboards He predicts that keyboards will be obsolete and that will be obsolete and that by 2050 literacy will be by 2050 literacy will be dead. dead.

He also predicts that He also predicts that technology in the future technology in the future will include the “ability to will include the “ability to search for such attributes search for such attributes as taste, smell, texture, as taste, smell, texture, reflectivity, opacity, mass, reflectivity, opacity, mass, density, tone, speed, and density, tone, speed, and volume.” (Frey, n.d.)volume.” (Frey, n.d.)

Berman’s bestBerman’s best

As libraries and librarians have become the gateway As libraries and librarians have become the gateway through which society finds access to all types of through which society finds access to all types of information we need those like Sanford Berman who information we need those like Sanford Berman who are committed to the principles of intelligibility, find-are committed to the principles of intelligibility, find-ability, and fairness to ensure the future of the quality ability, and fairness to ensure the future of the quality of such access.of such access.