4/30/13 Reflection on ALA Principles and the Code of Ethics

Post date: Apr 7, 2013 6:46:37 PM

ALA Council. "Code of Ethics of the American Library Association | American Library Association." American Library Association. N.p., 22 Jan. 2008. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://www.ala.org/advocacy/proethics/codeofethics/codeethics>.

"Divisions." American Library Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://www.ala.org/groups/divs>.

"Equity of Access." American Library Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://www.ala.org/advocacy/access/equityofaccess>.

"Intellectual Freedom." American Library Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom>.

"Intellectual Property." American Library Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <www.ala.org/advocacy/copyright/intellectualproperty>.

"OGR Issue Briefs." American Library Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://www.ala.org/offices/ogr/issuebriefs>.

"Privacy and Confidentiality." American Library Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <www.ala.org/offices/oif/ifissues/privacyconfidentiality>.

The American Library Association Principles are all based on the First Amendment and are written to guarantee free speech and as part of free speech, confidentiality to every patron. I found it interesting that there were some things I hadn’t thought of as being covered under this amendment and some small town libraries that I have visited were not following it correctly. Under the page on Privacy and Confidentiality, it lists these items as examples of what should be held private: patron records, call slips, computer sign-up sheets, registration for equipment or facilities, circulation records, web site history, reserve notices, and research notes. Computer sign up sheets were what surprised me, because I have seen libraries where they simply have a notebook sitting out for patrons to write their name and the time they got on/off of the computer. One way to make this a little more confidential would be for them to put their patron numbers down instead. I would like to look up how these rules apply to libraries that still use note cards to check items out. If past patron names are on the card, which would violate their right to confidentiality. A way to help with this problem would be to make use of a black permanent marker, but there should be a better way. Privacy and Confidentiality were listed as a core value of librarianship, so they need to be taken as seriously as possible both to protect the library’s patrons and also to protect the image of the library itself.

Intellectual Freedom is also listed as a core value. It is the second point on the code of ethics, which is one above confidentiality, and it is covered by our country’s first amendment. The most important part is that it states how “a publicly supported library provides free and equal access to information for all people of that community” (Intellectual Freedom). While it may be up to the librarians to determine what sorts of information the community will desire, the community is within reach of information, should they ever need it. Free access is a strong point of this clause; as those who cannot afford to pay for information still rightly have as much access to it as those who can. This has been different in the past, as I have learned through reading Library: An Unquiet History by Matthew Battles. Information has not always been free, but it is the goal of public librarians to make it so.

I see this information as useful because I would like to help some libraries update their systems so that they are not only more efficient, but also more private. If someone checks out a book on divorce and sees other patrons name on a card for it that they recognize, it could potentially ruin the reputation of someone who was perhaps researching it for a paper or project. Also, the Intellectual Freedom clause indicates that those who are homeless or without money still have as much right to the books within their public library as those who do have homes and financial leeway. This is an important step in equalizing all Americans and helping other to help themselves.