Decolonization and a more inclusive library

For the identification of outdated and/or offensive subject headings we have made use of the word lists published by the Dutch National Museum of World Cultures and Flemish public-service broadcaster VRT. These publications have moreover helped us with choosing respectful alternatives for each term.

• Words Matter. An Unfinished Guide to Word Choices in the Cultural Sector
• 'Word List Inclusive Language' (only available in Dutch)

Soon we will upload a list of all subject headings we have replaced so far together with their alternatives (with the important disclaimer that this list contains the original harmful and/or offensive subject headings). Since the (associated) meanings of words change all the time, we strive to frequently update this list. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions about the alternatives we selected or if you come across outdated and/or offensive subject headings in LibSearch you feel are missing from our list.

It is important to note that we consciously refrain from removing outdated and/or offensive subject headings from our metadata and that it is still possible to search for these terms for research purposes. We believe in preserving an unaltered historical record that can inform research and discussion about our colonial past. For the same reason we will never alter the titles of books or other library materials, even if they contain language that might be deemed harmful.

The Dutch term ‘politionele acties’ has been replaced by the term ‘Nederlands-Indonesische oorlogen'. As explained in the Words Matter publication (p. 131), ‘politionele acties’ refers to the extensive military operations by the Dutch army from 1945 to 1949 to stop Indonesia from gaining independence. The Dutch government insisted it wasn't a war but a legitimate way to suppress a rebellion, calling it ‘politionele acties'. Many, including the descendants of victims, find this term misleading. The use of euphemistic language hides the actual violence and harm caused and diminishes the victims to mere rebels. While there is no consensus on alternative terms, in The Netherlands, the more historically correct term 'Dutch-Indonesian Wars’ has been suggested, which we therefore have chosen as alternative.

If you search in LibSearch for 'politionele acties', you will find books and articles with this term in their title. But you will also find materials that have 'politionele acties’ as subject heading, which will now appear as ‘Nederlands-Indonesische oorlogen'. By clicking on the subject heading, a message will appear saying “This subject heading has been altered by your library. By continuing with your search, the original subject heading will be searched for.” By clicking continue, you will continue searching for materials with the term 'politionele acties'.

If your library works with OCLC – like the University Library of VU Amsterdam – and you are looking for ways to replace outdated and/or offensive subject headings, we invite you to reuse our list of subject headings and their alternatives. We have used the OCLC tool that helps to create locally preferred subjects for display and search expansion. You can find more information about this tool on the OCLC website. If you have any questions about using this tool or our subject headings list, please reach out to us; see the contact details at the bottom of this page.

Our subject librarians purchase books and other materials by fulfilling requests from VU staff and students, occasionally acquiring through donations and proactive collecting. Additionally, over 11.000 journals are accessible because they are part of a so-called Big Deal: national agreements that the Association of Universities in the Netherlands has reached with several major publishers.

While these deals are crucial in offering VU students and staff access to highly ranked journals in their field, we are aware that the major publishers that publish them are chiefly based in Europe and North America and therefore these journals might lack important voices outside of the mainstream.

We are committed to raising awareness within the library about our own role in the acquisition process, discussing how our choices might reinforce or take apart dominant western and colonial narratives in the academic world, including the publishing industry.

We also strive to work together with VU staff and students to de-center whiteness in curricula and diversify reading lists. An online guide with resources and support for students and staff is under construction. In the meantime, we recommend consulting our reading list Decolonizing the University and the Decolonisation Guide by the University of Sussex, UK,

Are you a teacher looking to diversify your reading list? Or are you a student who needs support with advocating for a more diverse reading list? We are very willing to help you. See the contact details at the bottom of this page.

The collection presented in our study rooms is biased towards western authors and perspectives. We are aware that this sends a certain message to students about what good research is and who can participate in academia. We are committed to diversifying our collections so that they make everyone at VU feel at home and represented in the library.

To ensure our open collections, which often contain reference works and recent acquisitions, represent the research and teaching carried out at VU in the best possible manner, we need to closely collaborate with researchers and teachers. Please contact us if you want to help us work towards a more inclusive library environment.

To create more inclusive library spaces we have, among other things, developed and housed the following theme collections: 

• Theme collection on the occasion of the Dutch Slavery Memorial Year in collaboration with VU staff who do research on the topics of slavery and/or colonialism
• Theme collection on decolonization at the Decolonization Lab in the University Library, on the 11^th floor of the VU Main Building (in collaboration with VU Diversity Office).