Questioning “Illegal Aliens”

Debates about problematic language in metadata abound in the library profession, and the now-deprecated Library of Congress Subject Heading “Illegal aliens” has been a major flashpoint, but the Christian library community in the United States has been silent in these debates. Using the “Illegal aliens” subject heading as a focal point, this paper contends that the dignity and responsibility inherent in the Christian concept of the imago Dei require that Christian librarians identify and remove language that does not promote human flourishing in library metadata. To care for the migrant is to reflect God’s image in the world, and the language we use has the power to uphold or diminish the dignity of others. The term “Illegal aliens” exemplifies a broader problem in the profession that requires more reflection and engagement from Christian librarians, so the paper concludes with practical recommendations for further engagement.