From 2000 to 2004 Olson was the editor-in-chief for Knowledge Organization and she currently serves on its editorial board. She also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Library Metadata. Olson has authored or co-authored over thirty peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and has published three books: Subject Analysis in Online Catalogs, 2nd ed., co-authored by John J. Boll (Libraries Unlimited, 2001); Information Sources in Women's Studies and Feminism, editor (KG Saur, 2002); and The Power to Name: Locating the Limits of Subject Representation in Libraries (Kluwer Academic, 2002).
Olson's research focuses on critical analysis of subject representations and classification systems. Using feminist, poststructural, and postcolonial perspectives, she examines the biases inherent in hierarchical organizational structures.
Olson draws on deconstructive theory to question the functionality and legitimacy of traditional knowledge organization.[1] Employing Drucilla Cornell’s adaptation of deconstruction (“the philosophy of the limit”), Olson examines the marginalization imposed by the structural limitations of library catalogs.[2][3] In her research, Olson explores the ethical consequences of inadequate representation and emphasizes the desirability of using knowledge organization as a change agent for the enrichment of users.[4]
Feminist approaches to knowledge organization
A central tenet of Olson's writing is the overshadowing effect of a patriarchal worldview on organization systems within the Western world. In the 2001 article "Sameness and Difference: A Cultural Foundation of Classification," Olson describes how the dichotomous principles of Western philosophical heritage create classification systems which privilege the mainstream, majority view.[5][6] She argues in favor of a less hierarchical and more contextual and interconnected structure of knowledge, employing Belenky, Clinchy, Goldberger and Tarule's concept of connected knowing.[7]
The Power to Name
Olson's most notable work is her 2002 book The Power to Name: Locating the Limits of Subject Representation in Libraries. In it she provides historical context to modern library classification by reviewing writings by library classification pioneers Melvil Dewey and Charles Cutter, highlighting the rigid universality they found desirable to achieve consistency and control. Olson argues that Dewey and Cutter’s insistence on a universal language is “a harmful characteristic in the sense that it marginalizes and excludes Others – concepts outside of a white, male, Eurocentric, Christocentric, heterosexual, able-bodied, bourgeois mainstream.”[8] Olson goes on to illustrate shortcomings of applied subject headings by analyzing selected Dewey Decimal Classification and Library of Congress Subject Headings representing concepts of gender, race, and ethnicity. She concludes with a call for a more "eccentric" approach to subject access, including techniques to "breach the limits" of library classification systems by making them more permeable, open, and dynamic.[9]
Recent research
Olson's later research further explored the gender bias within the Aristotelian logic that informs traditional classification and syndetic structures.[10] She has also collaborated in research addressing consistency in the assignment of indexing terms.[11]
Notes
^Olson, Hope A. (1997). "The Feminist and the Emperor's New Clothes: Feminist Deconstruction as a Critical Methodology for Library and Information Studies". Library & Information Science Research. 19 (2): 181–198. doi:10.1016/S0740-8188(97)90042-6.
^Drabinski, Emily (2008). "Teaching the Radical Catalog". In Roberto, K.R. (ed.). Radical Cataloging: Essays at the Front. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 198–205. ISBN978-0-7864-3543-2.
^Olson, Hope A. (2002). The Power to Name: Locating the Limits of Subject Representation in Libraries. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. p. 226. ISBN1-4020-0776-0.
^Olson, Hope A. (2000). "Difference, Culture and Change: The Untapped Potential of LCSH". Cataloging & Classification Quarterly. 29 (1–2): 53–71. doi:10.1300/J104v29n01_04.
^Olson, Hope A. (2001). "Sameness and Difference: A Cultural Foundation of Classification". Library Resources & Technical Services. 45 (3): 115–122. doi:10.5860/lrts.45n3.115.
^Deodato, Joseph (2010). "Deconstructing the Library With Jacques Derrida: Creating Space for the "Other" in Bibliographic Description and Classification". In Leckie, Gloria J.; Given, Lisa M.; Buschman, John E. (eds.). Critical Theory for Library and Information Science: Exploring the Social from Across the Disciplines. Santa Barbara, California: Libraries Unlimited. pp. 75–88. ISBN978-1-59158-938-9.
^Olson, Hope A. (2007). "How We Construct Subjects: A Feminist Analysis". Library Trends. 56 (2): 509–541. doi:10.1353/lib.2008.0007. hdl:2142/4586.
^Olson, Hope A. (2002). The Power to Name: Locating the Limits of Subject Representation in Libraries. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. p. 142. ISBN1-4020-0776-0.
^Miksa, Francis L. (2007). "The Power to Name: a Review Essay". Libraries & the Cultural Record. 42 (1): 75–79. doi:10.1353/lac.2007.0013. JSTOR 25549382.
^Olson, Hope A. (2007). "How We Construct Subjects: A Feminist Analysis". Library Trends. 56 (2): 509–541. doi:10.1353/lib.2008.0007. hdl:2142/4586.
^Olson, Hope A.; Dietmar Wolfram (2008). "Syntagmatic relationships and indexing consistency on a larger scale". Journal of Documentation. 64 (4): 602–615. doi:10.1108/00220410810884093.
External links
Olson's faculty website
February 07, 2023
hope, olson, professor, emerita, school, information, studies, university, wisconsin, milwaukee, previously, professor, university, alberta, bornwatertown, south, dakotanationalityamericanalma, matergustavus, adolphus, college, university, toronto, university,. Hope A Olson is Professor Emerita at the School of Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee She was previously a professor at the University of Alberta Hope A OlsonBornWatertown South DakotaNationalityAmericanAlma materGustavus Adolphus College University of Toronto University of Wisconsin MadisonScientific careerFieldsInformation scienceInstitutionsUniversity of Wisconsin MilwaukeeFrom 2000 to 2004 Olson was the editor in chief for Knowledge Organization and she currently serves on its editorial board She also serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Library Metadata Olson has authored or co authored over thirty peer reviewed articles and book chapters and has published three books Subject Analysis in Online Catalogs 2nd ed co authored by John J Boll Libraries Unlimited 2001 Information Sources in Women s Studies and Feminism editor KG Saur 2002 and The Power to Name Locating the Limits of Subject Representation in Libraries Kluwer Academic 2002 She received a B A from Gustavus Adolphus College an M L S from the University of Toronto and a Ph D 1996 from the University of Wisconsin Madison Olson s research focuses on critical analysis of subject representations and classification systems Using feminist poststructural and postcolonial perspectives she examines the biases inherent in hierarchical organizational structures Contents 1 Critical analysis of library classification 2 Feminist approaches to knowledge organization 3 The Power to Name 4 Recent research 5 Notes 6 External linksCritical analysis of library classification EditOlson draws on deconstructive theory to question the functionality and legitimacy of traditional knowledge organization 1 Employing Drucilla Cornell s adaptation of deconstruction the philosophy of the limit Olson examines the marginalization imposed by the structural limitations of library catalogs 2 3 In her research Olson explores the ethical consequences of inadequate representation and emphasizes the desirability of using knowledge organization as a change agent for the enrichment of users 4 Feminist approaches to knowledge organization EditA central tenet of Olson s writing is the overshadowing effect of a patriarchal worldview on organization systems within the Western world In the 2001 article Sameness and Difference A Cultural Foundation of Classification Olson describes how the dichotomous principles of Western philosophical heritage create classification systems which privilege the mainstream majority view 5 6 She argues in favor of a less hierarchical and more contextual and interconnected structure of knowledge employing Belenky Clinchy Goldberger and Tarule s concept of connected knowing 7 The Power to Name EditOlson s most notable work is her 2002 book The Power to Name Locating the Limits of Subject Representation in Libraries In it she provides historical context to modern library classification by reviewing writings by library classification pioneers Melvil Dewey and Charles Cutter highlighting the rigid universality they found desirable to achieve consistency and control Olson argues that Dewey and Cutter s insistence on a universal language is a harmful characteristic in the sense that it marginalizes and excludes Others concepts outside of a white male Eurocentric Christocentric heterosexual able bodied bourgeois mainstream 8 Olson goes on to illustrate shortcomings of applied subject headings by analyzing selected Dewey Decimal Classification and Library of Congress Subject Headings representing concepts of gender race and ethnicity She concludes with a call for a more eccentric approach to subject access including techniques to breach the limits of library classification systems by making them more permeable open and dynamic 9 Recent research EditOlson s later research further explored the gender bias within the Aristotelian logic that informs traditional classification and syndetic structures 10 She has also collaborated in research addressing consistency in the assignment of indexing terms 11 Notes Edit Olson Hope A 1997 The Feminist and the Emperor s New Clothes Feminist Deconstruction as a Critical Methodology for Library and Information Studies Library amp Information Science Research 19 2 181 198 doi 10 1016 S0740 8188 97 90042 6 Drabinski Emily 2008 Teaching the Radical Catalog In Roberto K R ed Radical Cataloging Essays at the Front Jefferson North Carolina McFarland amp Company Inc pp 198 205 ISBN 978 0 7864 3543 2 Olson Hope A 2002 The Power to Name Locating the Limits of Subject Representation in Libraries Dordrecht The Netherlands Kluwer Academic Publishers p 226 ISBN 1 4020 0776 0 Olson Hope A 2000 Difference Culture and Change The Untapped Potential of LCSH Cataloging amp Classification Quarterly 29 1 2 53 71 doi 10 1300 J104v29n01 04 Olson Hope A 2001 Sameness and Difference A Cultural Foundation of Classification Library Resources amp Technical Services 45 3 115 122 doi 10 5860 lrts 45n3 115 Deodato Joseph 2010 Deconstructing the Library With Jacques Derrida Creating Space for the Other in Bibliographic Description and Classification In Leckie Gloria J Given Lisa M Buschman John E eds Critical Theory for Library and Information Science Exploring the Social from Across the Disciplines Santa Barbara California Libraries Unlimited pp 75 88 ISBN 978 1 59158 938 9 Olson Hope A 2007 How We Construct Subjects A Feminist Analysis Library Trends 56 2 509 541 doi 10 1353 lib 2008 0007 hdl 2142 4586 Olson Hope A 2002 The Power to Name Locating the Limits of Subject Representation in Libraries Dordrecht The Netherlands Kluwer Academic Publishers p 142 ISBN 1 4020 0776 0 Miksa Francis L 2007 The Power to Name a Review Essay Libraries amp the Cultural Record 42 1 75 79 doi 10 1353 lac 2007 0013 JSTOR 25549382 Olson Hope A 2007 How We Construct Subjects A Feminist Analysis Library Trends 56 2 509 541 doi 10 1353 lib 2008 0007 hdl 2142 4586 Olson Hope A Dietmar Wolfram 2008 Syntagmatic relationships and indexing consistency on a larger scale Journal of Documentation 64 4 602 615 doi 10 1108 00220410810884093 External links EditOlson s faculty website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hope A Olson amp oldid 1114363715, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
