Access reclaimed: defending open knowledge and underrepresented perspectives through subject cataloguing

Abstract

University libraries traditionally focus on canonical academic literature, often overlooking ephemeral materials like fanzines. However, these alternative publications are vital "object-monuments" that preserve the affective memory and the voices of underrepresented groups. This study presents a Brazilian experience of reclaiming access to these marginalized narratives through specialized subject cataloging and metadata management. Historically, standard cataloging rules have struggled to capture the nuances and the social weight of independent publications, leading to their invisibility within academic collections. By applying the "panning for singularities" methodology, the librarian exercises their curatorial and political authority to identify, value, and describe these unique items. Focusing on a collection of fanzines, originally gathered during a master's thesis research, this study demonstrates how tailored metadata can rescue these sources from obscurity and integrate them into the open knowledge ecosystem. Providing accurate, context-aware metadata for fanzines not only guarantees their preservation but also promotes cognitive justice. It transforms the library from a mere repository into an active political agent that defends open knowledge and diversity. By bringing these underrepresented perspectives to the forefront through subject cataloging, the university library fulfills its role as a space for social construction and democratic access to information,...