Working with harmful content: Practical tools for managing vicarious trauma
Abstract
This paper addresses the pervasive issue of harmful content in cultural heritage institutions, focusing specifically on the impacts of vicarious trauma on student workers and full-time staff members who engage with sensitive materials. Also known as ‘secondary trauma’, vicarious trauma can produce distress comparable to primary traumatic experiences. Drawing on experiences from the University of Texas at Austin Libraries staff, the paper explores the challenges of processing collections that contain graphic imagery, troubling narratives and remnants of open racism and colonialism. Through analysis of specific projects, including the Independent Voices and the US Geological Survey’s Texas Historical Topographic Maps collection, the paper underscores the necessity for systemic practices to address and mitigate the effects of vicarious trauma. Prompted by a project identifying historical topographic maps containing place names with racial slurs, the authors sought to create resources to better care for and respect the needs of metadata workers. The authors introduce a comprehensive guide to equip staff with tools for managing their interactions with harmful content and mechanisms for communicating discomfort, in addition to tools to help project managers and supervisors obtain informed consent. By presenting this guide as a living document, the aim is to foster ongoing reflection and improvement in handling sensitive content across various units and institutions. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at http://hstalks.com/business.
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Author's Biography
Katherine Strickland is the Maps Coordinator for the University of Texas at Austin, UT Libraries, where she is responsible for all aspects of collection development, liaison, public and digital scholarship services related to maps. In this capacity, she provides instruction, responds to reference questions and consultation requests from university and public patrons, and oversees both the physical and digital Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection. She helped establish the UT Libraries’ Map & Geospatial Collections Explorer Fellowship and enjoys supporting student work with geospatial materials. Strickland is active in the Western Association of Map Libraries.
Devon Murphy is the Metadata Analyst at the University of Texas at Austin. In this role, they oversee standards for the libraries’ archival and bibliographic materials. Devon holds dual master's degrees in art history and information science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Their previous work includes the Best Practices for Queer Metadata and the Metadata Best Practices for Trans and Gender Diverse Resources. Devon also serves as a member of the Visual Resources Association’s Equitable Action Committee.
