Decolonizing the Library

For books written BY diverse people, first identify the subject heading used for that class of person or ethnic group, then add subject subdivision terms to narrow your search.

• Prisoners (LCSH)

• Imprisonment (LCSH)

• Ex-convicts (LCSH)

• Recidivists (LCSH)

For autobiographies and memoirs, use the subject subdivision term Biography (LCSH), (e.g. Prisoners Biography) 

For primary sources try these subject subdivision terms to find first hand accounts by historically marginalized voices:

• Sources (LCSH) (combine with historical topics e.g. Prisoners Sources)

• Personal narratives (LCSH) (combine with events and wars, e.g. Ex-convicts Personal narratives)

• Correspondence (LCSH) (combine with names of individuals, classes of people, and ethnic groups, e.g. Prisoners Correspondence)

• Diaries (LCSH) (combine with names of individuals, classes of people, and ethnic groups)

• Interviews (LCSH) (combine with names of individuals, classes of people, and ethnic groups, e.g. Recidivists Interviews)

More about primary sources: Primary Sources Topic Guide

Films on Demand has over 40,000 videos including works by diverse people and about diverse cultures. For videos of diverse voices, search by topic, events, movements, author or activist name, such as:

• Prisoners

• Solitary confinement

• Prison reform

• Craig Haney

• Zebulon Brockway

• Innocence project

Also browse through Films on Demand subject collections.