The Overton Memorial Library provides access to information resources to support the curriculum and research needs of HCU’s students, faculty and staff. We facilitate lifelong learning within the HCU community by teaching the information literacy skills necessary to locate, evaluate, and use information. The Library provides information, which can be used by individuals in the Shoals and surrounding area.
Overton Memorial Library recognizes that our catalog and resource descriptions contain language that reflects the biases, norms, and perspectives of the time in which they were created. In particular, for resources about persons and groups, this language is often outdated and harmful. These descriptions also incorporate controlled vocabularies, such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings, which include some headings (e.g., Indians of North America), that are offensive or inappropriate. We use international standards for description, but support and actively participate in efforts to update and change these practices as we strive for descriptions that are inclusive, respectful, and do not cause harm.
