The Free Library is proud to announce the implementation of Homosaurus, a linked data vocabulary of LGBTQ+ terms. Homosaurus enhances LGBTQ+ discoverability within the catalog by offering patrons a broader range of search terms. 

In the catalog, we use the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) controlled vocabulary to describe our catalog's holdings. Using a controlled list of terms allows for consistency when searching for items. However, LCSH is slow to update its terminology, some of which is decades old and potentially offensive. If you've tried searching for queer/queer-related content in a library and didn't find much, it's because of this. For a long time, the only search term for LGBTQ+ people was "sexual minorities." When was the last time someone described themselves that way?

Homosaurus is a tool that allows us (libraries, museums, etc.) to describe LGBTQ+ topics and concepts in a way that is both inclusive and respectful, from "two-spirit" to "aromanticism" to "nonbinary people." It provides us with a myriad of terms that describe topics and people in the patron's language, not in outdated terminology. While it is peer-reviewed, it is consistently being updated. Please go check it out and tell us what you think!