Enhancing Inclusive Bibliographic Data: A Study of Disability Terminology in the Subject Headings of the National Library of Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to examine the use and structure of disability-related subject headings in the National Library of Indonesia's controlled vocabulary system (Juliana) in relation to principles of inclusivity and bibliographic justice. The research adopts a qualitative content analysis approach to evaluate how disability terminology is applied in subject headings and metadata structures, referencing both the Juliana system and the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC). The analysis focuses on four disability categories as defined by Indonesian Law No. 8 of 2016: physical, intellectual, mental, and sensory disabilities. Findings reveal that while the National Library has made progressive efforts to adopt inclusive terms such as Persons with Disabilities, Tunadaksa (physical disability), and Tunanetra (blind), several stigmatizing and outdated terms such as Cacat Jiwa (mental handicap) and Sakit Mental (mentally ill) are still present in the system. Furthermore, many subject headings lack comprehensive semantic structures, including broader terms, narrower terms, and related terms, limiting their descriptive and retrieval functions. These challenges underscore the need to situate cataloging reform within the broader framework of Universal Bibliographic Control (UBC), a principle developed by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) that promotes the global availability of bibliographic data through nationally coordinated efforts. In the context of...