Yoko Ferguson is an experienced librarian and metadata specialist at the University of the District of Columbia, with dual master's degrees in English Literature and Library Science. Her work focuses on reparative cataloging, social justice in library classification, and mentorship in technical services, and she has published extensively on ethical and inclusive cataloging practices.
Experience
Education
Master of Arts in English Literature, The City College of New York, City University of New York Master in Library Science, University at Buffalo Bachelor of Arts in English, University of California at Los Angeles
Roles
Member, PCC SACO Comics and Fiction Funnel, 2022-Present Member, PCC NACO/BIBCO Washington Research Library Consortium Funnel, 2020-Present Member, Washington Research Library Consortium Metadata Committee, 2022-Present Member, Metadata Reparative Cataloging Subgroup, 2021-Present Member, Metadata Committee Authority Control Subgroup, 2021-22 Member, Asian Pacific American Library Association, 2021-Present Co-chair, APALA Mentorship Committee, 2021-Present Member, Library Association of City University of New York, 2010-18 Program Co-Chair, New York Technical Services Librarians, 2016-18
Expertise
Metadata management of bibliographic records in the library catalog
Research Focus / Works in Progress
Reparative cataloging and social justice in cataloging; mentorship and team/trust building in technical services; cultural and historical studies of library classification systems and subject headings overseas
Bright, M., Ferguson, Y., Heilbrun, D., & Saavedra, J. (2024). Reparative cataloging at the Washington Research Library Consortium: Moving from ideas to action. In A. Billey, E. Nelson, & R. Uhl (Eds.),Inclusive cataloging: Philosophical questions and case studies in reparative cataloging. ALA Editions.
Ferguson, Y., & Marvin, H. (in press). Fostering future librarians: Best practices for remote internships in a post-pandemic library. Urban Library Journal.
Beckman, L., Eaton, L., Ferguson, Y., Heilbrun, D., Lavender, R., Mackenzie, T., & Schubel, D. (2022). Ethical and anti-oppressive metadata: A collaboration between catalogers and archivists at George Mason University libraries. Collaborative Librarianship, 13(1). https://digitalcommons.du.edu/collaborativelibrarianship/vol13/iss1/5
Selected Presentations
Ferguson, Y. (2024). Meeting our needs virtually: Remote cataloging internship at the UDC library.2024 WRLC Annual Meeting, Virtual.
Ferguson, Y., & Marvin, H. (2024). Fostering future librarians: Best practices for remote internships in a post-pandemic library. LACUNY Institute, Virtual.
Selected Grants
Professional Staff Congress of the City University of New York. (2015). Research grant. City College of New York. (2012). Faculty travel grant.
Recognitions
President's Award for Outstanding Faculty Service, City College of New York, 2017 Open Education Conference Scholarship, 2023
Invited Participations
Ferguson, Y. (2024). Panelist. The Catholic University of America LIS Mentorship Panel on Cataloging and Librarianship, Virtual.
