Reimagining Descriptive Workflows: transformative practices at Wellcome Collection and Trinity College Dublin

Following on from OCLC RLP discussions with institutions in the UK and Ireland, this webinar series examines how libraries and archives can transform their descriptive practices to reflect the communities they serve.

Presenters

• Laura Rooney Ferris, Deputy Head Content Management and Open Scholarship, Trinity College Dublin
• Dr. Katy Mair, Collections Information Lead, Wellcome Collection
• Dr. Adrian Plau, Collections Information Lead, Wellcome Collection
   

Abstract

Libraries and archives are increasingly recognizing their responsibility to create welcoming and respectful spaces for all users, extending beyond physical environments to encompass catalogs, metadata, and the very language used to describe collections. This webinar explores how two leading institutions are reimagining their descriptive practices to better serve their communities whilst addressing complex historical legacies.

Dr. Adrian Plau and Dr. Katy Mair from Wellcome Collection will share how their institution is transforming metadata practices to align with their vision of "a world where everyone's experience of health matters." Drawing from their experience managing collections with colonial origins, they will demonstrate practical approaches to ethical and inclusive cataloging that prioritizes both user needs and staff wellbeing.

Laura Rooney Ferris from Trinity College Dublin will present a compelling case study of institutional change through their recent decision to dename and rename their main library. Originally named after philosopher George Berkeley, the library underwent extensive community consultation before being renamed The Eavan Boland Library, highlighting how libraries can actively engage with historical legacies whilst creating more inclusive spaces.

Key topics will include:

• Establishing collaborative workflows that incorporate lived experience perspectives and community knowledge
• Managing access to sensitive materials whilst maintaining transparency and accountability
• Creating formal mechanisms for community feedback and appeals, including external advisory panels
• Systematic approaches to addressing colonial collecting practices and problematic historical descriptions
• Navigating complex institutional legacy issues through evidence-based consultation processes
• Balancing historical accuracy with contemporary values of inclusion and respect
• Practical strategies for supporting staff wellbeing when working with difficult or harmful material
• Using transcription projects and community engagement to enhance accessibility and provenance research

Both presentations will demonstrate how thoughtful policy development, genuine community engagement, and systematic approaches to descriptive practice can transform how cultural institutions serve their users. From Wellcome's innovative Access Advisory Panel to Trinity's comprehensive legacy review process, attendees will gain practical insights into implementing meaningful change within existing institutional frameworks.

This session is ideal for library and archive professionals, catalogers, metadata specialists, and anyone involved in collections management who seeks to develop more inclusive and ethical descriptive practices whilst addressing the complex legacies embedded within institutional collections and spaces.