Introduction

Information professionals are fundamentally guided by core ethical principles that center human dignity, social justice, and equitable access to knowledge. As a virtual reality producer and digital curator, these principles are particularly crucial as we navigate the intersection of traditional stewardship and emerging technologies. As Garner notes in Information Services Today (2022), "Collections represent the cultural heritage of society and many information organizations have been at the heart of their community for time immemorial." This vital role requires us to thoughtfully balance competing interests and ethical imperatives, particularly as emerging technologies and societal changes present new challenges for both physical and digital preservation.

The ethical frameworks developed by our professional organizations provide essential guidance through these challenges. The Society of American Archivists emphasizes core values of diversity, social responsibility, and responsible stewardship - recognizing that archivists must "actively document those whose voices have been underrepresented or marginalized" (SAA, 2020). Similarly, ALA's Code of Ethics commits information professionals to "affirm the inherent dignity and rights of every person" while working to "dismantle systemic and individual biases" (ALA, 2021). As Chatman's (1996) research on information poverty demonstrates, even well-intentioned policies can perpetuate barriers if they don't account for communities' specific circumstances and contexts.

Today's information professionals face increasingly complex ethical challenges as multiple crises threaten our cultural heritage. Civil unrest and armed conflicts put irreplaceable collections at risk, with cultural heritage institutions often deliberately targeted as a means of erasing identity and history. As Tandon et al. (2023) document in their UNESCO report on endangered heritage, "cultural property is increasingly the target of intentional destruction in conflict zones as a means of cultural erasure and psychological warfare." Simultaneously, climate change accelerates the destruction of cultural sites, documents, and artifacts, while the spread of misinformation and rising censorship threatens intellectual freedom and the integrity of the historical record. These compounding challenges demand ethical responses that balance preservation, access, and community agency.

My professional work through XR VOICES (Virtual Oases for Inclusive Cultural Exchange and Sanctuary) demonstrates an unwavering commitment to these core ethical values and principles. I have consistently strived to uphold the profession's fundamental responsibilities around equitable access, preservation of endangered cultural heritage, protection of privacy and intellectual freedom, advocacy for marginalized voices, and responsible stewardship of digital collections. Through thoughtful application of emerging technologies and careful attention to community needs, I have worked to fulfill our ethical mandate to both preserve humanity's cultural record and ensure it remains accessible to all who seek it.

Evidence

My commitment to professional ethics and values is demonstrated through three key initiatives that showcase thoughtful application of our field's core principles in increasingly complex information environments.

1. "Children Draw War Not Flowers" (video overview I created for the project),  is a virtual exhibition that exemplifies my deep understanding of SAA's principles of "responsible stewardship" and "social dignity." Working with 40 regional Ukrainian libraries, SJSU created an art competition serving over 40,000 displaced children. As the supervising producer and creative director of the virtual reality exhibit of the children’s artwork, my goal was to develop immersive strategies that captured crucial community memory during crises while raising awareness about the deliberate attacks on cultural institutions. To do so, I prioritized the curation of themed rooms to validate children's lived experiences, from spaces displaying raw depictions of war's harsh realities to rooms showcasing hope, resistance, and cultural pride as well as rooms that highlighted the intentional destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage and information centers. I ensured linguistic inclusivity by presenting all exhibition statements, artwork titles, and contextual information in both Ukrainian and English, respecting the creators' cultural identity while making their stories accessible to global audiences. I prioritized privacy and protection by intentionally omitting children's last names from all artwork, balancing visibility with security concerns. I designed the VR gallery space in the shape of Ukraine's trident symbol, consciously incorporating cultural elements that affirmed Ukrainian independence and resilience while resisting cultural erasure—a critical ethical stance given Russia's deliberate targeting of Ukrainian libraries and cultural institutions in an attempt to obliterate Ukrainian identity and language. Finally, central to the ethical framework of this project is the dedicated "call to action" room and links I incorporated, connecting exhibition viewers with tangible ways to support Ukrainian libraries and SUCHO (Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online), recognizing our professional responsibility to protect cultural heritage under threat and demonstrating how information professionals outside of conflict zones can help advocate for communities and cultural heritage under threat.

2. The "Seeking Immortality" VR environment with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe illustrates my application of community-centered preservation ethics built on SAA's principles of "trust" and "professional relationships." As Virtual Reality supervising producer and creative director, I helped execute data sovereignty frameworks that guaranteed tribal ownership and control over all cultural materials, including specific protocols for how sensitive cultural knowledge would be represented. I assisted in prioritizing intergenerational knowledge transfer by training tribal youth in digital preservation techniques, positioning them as active knowledge keepers rather than passive subjects. The program centered Northern Cheyenne decision-making at every stage, (video created for ALA presentation) from determining which cultural elements could be digitally represented to creating culturally appropriate navigation interfaces. I integrated traditional knowledge systems alongside digital technologies (video overview I created for the project), respecting indigenous epistemologies rather than imposing Western information paradigms. Critically, I implemented a comprehensive ethical exit strategy ensuring all digital assets, environments, and data were either transferred back to Northern Cheyenne ownership or permanently destroyed, honoring the principle that the tribe remains the sole custodian of their cultural knowledge. This approach created a sustainable ecosystem where young people became active participants in preserving their heritage while strengthening intergenerational bonds. By completely relinquishing control of all digital assets to the tribe, the project demonstrated my understanding of the ethical imperative to respect indigenous data sovereignty.

3. The "Freedom to Read" VR space directly addresses our profession's core commitments to diversity, intellectual freedom, and social responsibility as outlined in ALA's Code of Ethics. This initiative emerged as a direct response to growing censorship threats disproportionately affecting BIPOC and LGBTQ+ voices. In designing this space, I created accessible digital architecture that removed barriers to banned books, ensuring these voices remained available despite systematic removal from physical libraries. I structured the experience to highlight patterns of censorship, helping users recognize that book banning often targets already marginalized communities. The space balanced providing access with contextual information about challenged materials, respecting diverse perspectives while firmly opposing censorship. I deliberately curated content that transcended political divides by focusing on the historical relationship between intellectual freedom and democracy, creating a values-based narrative that could appeal to diverse viewpoints while still highlighting the disproportionate impact of censorship on marginalized communities. This work demonstrates our ethical obligation to resist censorship and ensure equitable access to diverse perspectives, especially for historically underrepresented communities. The project exemplifies how information professionals can leverage technology to uphold intellectual freedom while providing safe, private access to threatened materials.

4. These three projects collectively form XR VOICES (Virtual Oases for Inclusive Cultural Exchange and Sanctuary), which received the 2024 Anthem Awards Silver Trophy in the Awareness Category for Digital & Innovative Experiences. This prestigious recognition highlights how the ethical application of emerging technologies can preserve endangered cultural knowledge, amplify marginalized voices, and raise awareness about critical social issues. Throughout these initiatives, and highlighted in our Anthem Award acceptance speech, I have consistently demonstrated my commitment to our profession's ethical frameworks by prioritizing community needs, respecting cultural protocols, ensuring equitable access, and using technology thoughtfully to preserve and protect vulnerable collections and voices. My work reflects a nuanced understanding of how information ethics must evolve alongside emerging technologies while remaining grounded in our core professional values of dignity, justice, and equitable access to knowledge.

Conclusion

My work with XR VOICES demonstrates a deep commitment to the ethical principles and values that guide information professionals. Through projects like "Children Draw War Not Flowers," "Seeking Immortality," and "Freedom to Read," I have consistently balanced complex ethical considerations including privacy protection, cultural sovereignty, linguistic inclusivity, cultural heritage preservation, and intellectual freedom. The 2024 Anthem Award recognition affirms how these projects successfully navigate ethical challenges to preserve endangered heritage and amplify marginalized voices. Each project represents a different application of our profession's core values. In "Children Draw War Not Flowers," I prioritized documenting Ukrainian cultural heritage under active attack while protecting vulnerable creators and raising their voices. The "Seeking Immortality" initiative demonstrated my understanding of indigenous data sovereignty and the ethical imperative to ensure communities maintain control over their cultural narratives. "Freedom to Read" exemplifies our profession's commitment to intellectual freedom and equitable access, particularly for marginalized voices facing systematic censorship.

Moving forward, I will continue applying these ethical frameworks to address emerging challenges in both physical and virtual environments and cultural heritage preservation. To stay current with evolving ethical considerations, I will actively engage with professional resources including SAA's Committee on Ethics and Professional Conduct case studies, American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom resources, and UNESCO's resources on heritage protection during conflict. These resources will help inform my future work as our field navigates complex questions around digital preservation, privacy, access, and cultural sovereignty in an increasingly connected world.

References

American Library Association. (2021). Code of ethics of the American Library Association. https://www.ala.org/tools/ethics

Chatman, E. A. (1996). The impoverished life-world of outsiders. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 47(3), 193–206. https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(199603)47:3

Garner, M. L. (2023). Information ethics. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information Services Today (3rd ed., pp. 423-434). Rowman & Littlefield.

O'Brien, H., Greyson, D., De Forest, H. & McDavid, K. (2022). Information needs. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information Services Today (3rd ed., pp. 53-65). Rowman & Littlefield.

Society of American Archivists. (2020). Core values of archivists. https://www2.archivists.org/statements/saa-core-values-statement-and-code-of-ethics

Tandon, A., Froment, E., & Kishore, R. (2023). Heritage in times of crisis: UNESCO's response to protect culture in emergency situations. UNESCO Digital Library. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000385439