Abstract:
This study addresses cataloging at the Biblioteca Central do Estado da Bahia (BCEB), focusing on the inclusion of social markers to highlight the representation of Black authors. Cataloging practices, often considered neutral in the scientific field of Library Science, reflect social inequalities, limiting equitable access to information. The study's primary objective was to examine the cataloging attributes used at BCEB to represent black authors, analyzing MARC 21 fields and the normative principles adopted. The specific objectives are to identify the attributes adopted in cataloging that reference the social markers of the authors; identify the MARC fields used to record these attributes; and analyze how normative guidelines and cataloging formats contribute to the indexing and dissemination of social markers.The research, based on a qualitative approach, was conducted as a case study and included interviews with librarians and document analysis of titles available in BCEB's online catalog. The results revealed that, despite using standards such as AACR2 and MARC 21, inclusive practices remain at an early stage. Few works use terminologies in MARC 21 subfields to identify black authors, and the adoption of other subfields for recording authors' social markers is not yet widespread. The study concludes that adopting inclusive cataloging practices is essential to address the historical invisibility of Black authors and ensure that public libraries serve as democratic spaces for social transformation. Including social markers not only facilitates information retrieval but also promotes diversity, social justice, and belonging. Thus, the study underscores the importance of a critical approach to cataloging, capable of reflecting the cultural and social plurality of Brazilian society, particularly in a state like Bahia, which has the largest Black population in the country.
