Bridging Now to Next: Enhancing Discovery Through AIATSIS Subject Headings
As we reflect on this year’s Reconciliation Week theme, "Bridging Now to Next," our library has taken meaningful steps to ensure that the stories, knowledge, and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are represented more respectfully and accurately within our collections.
One of the key ways we are doing this is by integrating AIATSIS subject headings and AustLang language codes into our catalogue. These culturally appropriate metadata tools are specifically designed to reflect the perspectives, terminologies, and knowledge systems of First Nations communities.
Why This Matters
Traditional cataloguing practices have often failed to represent Indigenous knowledge respectfully or accurately. Descriptions may have been incomplete, outdated, or even harmful. By adopting AIATSIS subject headings, we are actively working to:
- Enhance discoverability of First Nations content through language names, cultural groups, and more nuanced subject terms.
- Correct and contextualize past metadata that misrepresented or marginalized Indigenous perspectives.
- Support self-determination by using terminology endorsed by First Nations communities themselves.
A Step Toward Repair
This work is more than a technical upgrade—it’s part of our commitment to truth-telling and reconciliation. As we bridge the past with a more inclusive future, we recognise that description is not neutral. Cataloguing is storytelling, and every subject heading is a choice.
Through these changes, we aim to not only enhance access but also start repairing the way knowledge has been described and shared. It’s a long journey, but every step counts.
What This Looks Like
Where appropriate, content in the Library's search and discovery system may include terms drawn from three distinct thesauri pathways to enhance description and access.
- Australian place names e.g. River Murray (SW NSW, N Vic, SE SA SI54, SI55)
- Indigenous language groups and people e.g. Yu Yu language (S19) (Vic SI54-11)
- Subjects relating to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies e.g. Ceremonies - Secret / sacred
Learn More
You can learn more about these headings at https://aiatsis.gov.au/thesaurus
