Shenandoah University Libraries are committed to providing inclusive access to resources and services for all university community members. One aspect of inclusive access to library collections is the accurate description of the materials within them.
The descriptions in the library catalog, WorldCat Discovery, derive from standardized sources such as Library of Congress subject headings and publisher-supplied synopses. We recognize that, as language and cultural understanding continuously evolve, some descriptions in our catalog may include language that is outdated, insensitive, or inaccurate. Such descriptions reflect the social attitudes and values of the period or place in which they were created rather than the viewpoint of SU Libraries.
Likewise, digitized archival materials in the Shenandoah University Digital Archives and other primary-source collections may contain language and imagery that reflect outdated, insensitive, or inaccurate views. We provide these materials in order to preserve the historical record for educational purposes, and we are committed to addressing this issue by
We acknowledge that there are situations when descriptions can and should be corrected and when harmful archival content should be mitigated via content warnings and/or cover images. Individuals are welcome to contact us concerning such cases via Ask Us.
Adapted from Schaumburg Township District Library, Harmful Content Statement, and University of Pittsburgh Library System, A Notice on Harmful, Offensive, or Misrepresentative Archival Description and Language.
Posted 7/72025