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Comparing Spanish Authorities

The Spanish language diverges into multiple dialects around the world, creating further barriers for Spanish speakers in the English speaking world. As librarians, it is important to remove these barriers and create more robust Spanish access points. Thus this project began as a way to compare Spanish authorities across dialects.

Project Goals

Image by Ryunosuke Kikuno
Image by Ryunosuke Kikuno

Share Local Practices

Using the resources in the Spanish Cataloging spreadsheet can be complicated. Larger libraries are able to devote time to analyzing their community, developing local authorities, and creating cataloging practices to incorporate the information into their catalogs. Smaller public libraries do not have the same resources or funding, making it more difficult to implement such projects. Below are the local practices I established for this project, which have been used at both libraries I've worked at while researching this project.

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Which Spanish subject heading needs to be included?

If you know your local community, you can try to align the subject headings from their respective locations to the population in your community. For example, if there is a large Colombian community, use the Spanish subject headings from Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia. However, it might not always be possible to match up one to one. I find it easiest to add multiple Spanish subject headings if they differ. This typically results in 1-3 Spanish subject headings and genres per each Library of Congress subject heading and genre.​​

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Where should the Spanish subject headings and genres be added in the bibliographic record?

In OCLC Connexion, most foreign subject headings are added after the Library of Congress subject headings in a jumble of French, Spanish, Fast, and other headings. Currently, I add the Spanish subject headings and genres (multiple if needed) directly above the matching Library of Congress subject heading or genre. This helps library staff by showing them the direct translations, which can be very useful during cross-cultural language conversations. If a record is for a bilingual resource, I switch and put the Spanish below the English.

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Why Spanish-first in the bibliographic record?

Spanish materials are primarily for Spanish-speaking communities. It is important to center their understanding above our own. Library of Congress and many other North American knowledge bases center English. However, prioritizing Spanish in Spanish material records shows the community that they are important, seen, and welcome in the library. It's important that we send this message, especially in our current times.

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What other changes can be made to bibliographic records?

5xx - If possible, try to include a Spanish translation of the note with the Spanish before the English. However, this is not always possible if you are unfamiliar with Spanish, like myself. So take what you can from the material and do not trust Google Translator. Sometimes I search the ISBN and see if any established vendors have Spanish descriptions I can use.

520 - Add a Spanish description above the English and use the phrases in the General tab of the spreadsheet to complete it. I.E. $c Contraportada if the Spanish description comes from the back of the book.

521 - If your institution uses words in the 521 field instead of just numbers, they can also be repeated with the Spanish wording shown in the General tab. I.E. "Edades 4-8 años" above "Ages 4-8 years".

546 - Instead of simply recording the English, be sure to list the Spanish and then English as shown on the General tab. Note that if the material is bilingual, I suggest using the English first (same with the subject headings and genres).

600 - If a local heading needs to be created, use the Spanish qualifier (Personaje literario) for a fictitious character.

650 - If a local heading needs to be created, use the (Lugares imaginarios) for imaginary places.

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The links to the authorities in the spreadsheet aren't working.

Many of these links seem to change often, whether the library is updating their website or changing how they share authorities. Therefore, if a link in the Resources tab isn't working, I suggest doing a simple internet search for the institution plus the word "autoridades". This typically brings up the correct page, but sometimes requires a little searching/scrolling on the main page of the library.

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What are your qualifications?

I am not an expert in cataloging. I am entering my third year of professional cataloging at a public library. I simply saw a need for my community and decided to try and fill it. I also do not speak Spanish, although I am slowly learning. So you may find errors in the spreadsheet or the above information. If you find any errors or want to help, feel free to reach out to lastmccoylibrary@gmail.com.

Compare Differences

Examine the differences between dialects and determine how it might affect understanding by Spanish-speaking individuals. After collecting hundreds of authorities, differences were coded into six different categories.

Non-consequential differences included:

Possible consequential differences included:

  • Similar words

    • "Guerra del Vietnam, 1961-1975" versus "Conflicto Vietnamita, 1961-1975"​

And consequential differences included;

  • Different wording

    • "Hispanoestadounidenses" versus "Hispanonorteamericanos" versus "Hispanoamericanos"​

  • Misappropriation

    • "Día de los Difuntos" or "Día de los Fieles Difuntos" used as the formal heading for "Día de los muertos" when they are two separate holidays representing the colonizing Christian All Souls' Day and the indigenous holiday honoring the dead.​

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Share Resources

In this day and age, knowledge has been commodified. This stands directly in contrast to the ideals of librarianship. Free access to knowledge and resources leads to better libraries and more informed communities. Thus, the research for this project will be freely available to any library that wishes to use it. It can be viewed here in Google sheets. It will be updated constantly as new information is added to the spreadsheet via daily cataloging of Spanish materials.

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