Statement of harmful language in catalog records

Our records may contain harmful language.

While personnel in UMD Libraries' Cataloging and Metadata Services department strive to use inclusive language to describe library materials, you may encounter harmful language in our catalog. You may find examples of such language in book titles, subtitles, or other information transcribed directly from library materials. In these instances, harmful words are not censored because this content provides historical context for understanding the era, attitudes, and opinions of their creators. You may also find harmful language because our records have been created over many decades. Older records may contain language that was acceptable historically to some people with the power to set norms, but is recognized widely as offensive today. We may be able to change language in these records. If you encounter harmful language, please fill out our feedback form. We will respond to your feedback and communicate any action we will take to update the language.