Voices of the Catalog

An exhibit curated by MLIS students Amy Gabbert-Montag, Charlotte Kadifa, and Jaylene Telford

On display in the Library Lobby through April 28, 2025

From 1973 to 1999, the Hennepin County Library (HCL) cataloging team created a groundbreaking catalog that challenged outdated and harmful language commonly used in library systems. Rather than relying on terminology that was often racist, sexist, or homophobic, the HCL catalog used more inclusive and accurate descriptions. Led by Head Cataloger Sandy Berman, the HCL catalogers documented their work in the HCL Cataloging Bulletin, a globally shared publication.

In the 1990s, however, these records were replaced with standard ones and the original catalog was nearly lost. Thankfully, former St. Catherine University professor David Lesniaski reconstructed the catalog and preserved this important piece of history. Recognizing the significance of this work, three MLIS graduate students—Amy Gabbert-Montag, Charlotte Kadifa, and Jaylene Telford—began interviewing former HCL catalogers and digitizing the HCL Cataloging Bulletins.

This exhibit highlights the often-overlooked contributions of Berman’s colleagues, whose input played a crucial role in shaping the HCL catalog as a work of both creativity and necessity. These materials provide the opportunity for multidisciplinary research beyond the realm of librarianship. The HCBs present a cultural history that amplifies the voices of the marginalized, depicts the concerns of the disenfranchised, and showcases societal changes.