Statement on Potentially Harmful Language

UTA Libraries values research and open access to our materials, but acknowledges that these materials may contain outdated, harmful, violent, and discriminatory content.  Descriptions in our catalog, finding aids, and digital collections are being updated with appropriate language when possible. UTA Libraries seeks to balance the preservation of this history with sensitivity to how these materials are presented to researchers. In some cases, the creator's original language will be retained, but content warnings will be used to indicate this. 

The University of Texas at Arlington recognizes the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Here at UTA Libraries, we are committed to respectful description of all groups of people that are represented in our collections.  Describing collections is an ever-changing process. We believe that library staff have the responsibility to make reparative revisions that are more accurate and equitable. 

We recognize that:  

• Language of the past can often be discriminatory or culturally insensitive.  
• Library materials may contain racist, sexist, ableist, and homophobic views that may be harmful and difficult to view.   
• Even though standardized descriptive terms can enhance access to materials, some are outdated and harmful to the people being described.   
• Many archival finding aids and catalog records (some which were created years ago) may include harmful language. This can be a result of reusing language provided by creators of the material or by the bias of the person describing the material.   

  If you have concerns regarding language used in the descriptions of our collections, please submit your feedback through this form.