Mary Lambert
MLIS Capstone
SLO #1
SLO #1 – The student assesses the philosophy, principles, and ethics of the library and information field.
Since I first started my coursework in the field of library and information studies, I have learned so much about ethics and how this topic relates to the profession of a librarian. As keepers of information, it is vital that librarians always consider the needs and desires of their patrons to better serve them. From selecting and displaying literary works to conducting action research, it is imperative that librarians not allow their own personal beliefs or preferences to affect the decisions they make and to embrace the ethics of information access and intellectual freedom.
During my coursework at UNCG, censorship has been a discussion that has shown up in multiple classes. In LIS 600: Foundations of Library and Information studies, I was first exposed to censorship within the library, specifically censorship versus selection. In his article “Not Censorship but Selection,” Lester Asheim explains, “Selection begins with a presumption in favor of liberty of thought; censorship, with a presumption in favor of thought control” (Asheim, 1953, p. 67). In class, we discussed in detail how oftentimes many librarians refuse to purchase or display a work of literature that they find personally offensive. They may also avoid a controversial book for fear it might leave a negative impact on their patrons or lead to complaints from the community. In doing so, they are acting as censors and working against intellectual freedom. Asheim states that librarians should, instead, be selectors who look for reasons to keep a book rather than reject it (Asheim, 1953, p. 66). This lesson is one that will stay with me throughout the duration of my career and I hope to never find myself in a position where I am preventing my patrons from having access to materials because I personally do not approve of them or because I am too scared to accept challenges that may arise.
Similarly, completing the Instructional Review Board Student Researcher Modules (IRB) truly opened my eyes to ethical practices in the world of action research. Based on the principles created by The Belmont Report, the IRB ensures that researchers now provide subjects with adequate information that will allow them to decide if they truly want to participate in the research. This will definitely play a role in my career as a librarian as I am sure to find myself conducting research or participating as a research subject. When leading research, I intend to follow the established rules and regulations while conducting interviews, surveys, and/or case studies. By doing so, I can ensure I am respecting the rights of the subjects and protecting their privacy. I am confident this certification will serve me well in the future.
Ethics also came into play in LIS 625: Electronic Resources for Youth as I was tasked with creating a social media policy for the library at which I worked. With the advent of social media, people have the ability to share almost anything with almost anyone. However, as library employees, something that is often attached to our social media sites, we are representatives of that institution and what we say, especially if it is on the library’s social media site, can negatively impact the positive image the library is hoping to establish and maintain. Because of this, expectations need to be clearly stated and addressed so that everyone knows what is expected. The policy I created was for a community college library, so I focused on expectations for both staff and students, hoping to reach all users. Although creating a policy that was both brief and thorough was somewhat trying, I feel more confident in my ability to create a similar plan in the future, whether it be in regards to social media, basic computer usage, fines and fees, or library behavior.
The knowledge I have gained throughout the aforementioned experiences will guide me every day as a professional librarian. If I reach my goal of becoming a Teen Services Librarian, I will be faced with providing services and programming, in addition to building a collection and creating policies that meet the needs of a very diverse, very impressionable group of people. My work cannot ostracize anyone; in fact, it should do the exact opposite and reach out to everyone, regardless of differences. Because many young adult topics are controversial, I will have to stand tall and fight the battles that may come from community members, especially parents, who feel certain works are inappropriate and should be removed. In these moments, and as I work to better myself as a librarian, I will uphold ethical standards against censorship and embrace the policies the library has mandated for its staff and patrons.
Although ethics are probably not actively thought about every day, we have a tendency to know we are facing an ethical dilemma when we find ourselves in the middle of one. Because librarians are tasked with protecting and promoting intellectual freedom, it is imperative that we are ever vigilant and prepared to treat our patrons with respect, working hard to ensure that their individual needs are met. Reading articles about censorship, completing the IRB certification, and creating a social media policy have all prepared me to serve my community as a library worker because I have been given the chance to examine and discuss ethics on a professional level. Because of this, I will be prepared to carry over what I have learned into my own career in the future.
References
Asheim, L. (1953, September). Not censorship but selection. Retrieved October 2016, from American Library Association:
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/censorshipfirstamendmentissues/notcensorship
