Running head: KEY TOPICS

Key Topics in Librarianship Katherine Jones Master of Library Science Degree Program School of Library and Information Management Emporia State University

LI801XA Foundations of Library and Information Science Fall 2013, Dow

KEY TOPICS Key Topics in Librarianship It is the responsibility of all trained, educated professional librarians to provide their patrons with free, confidential access to a variety of materials. Librarians must take on the role of guardian and tour guide, protecting the interests of their users while guiding them through an often overwhelming amount of informational materials in the users quest for specific information that meets his or her needs. The role of the librarian must change and adapt in the face of new technologies and the ever-changing nature of the relationship between users and information. Regardless, as long as libraries put the interests of their patrons first and foremost and concentrate on user-centered services, librarians will continue to provide a vital service to information seekers. Roles of Information Professionals and Missions of Libraries Primary mission of libraries and role of librarians. The primary mission of libraries is to supply education, recreation, and information (ERI) in the form of books, journals, and online services (Rubin, 2010). This means that libraries provide access to academic journals, novels, and Internet access as well as a myriad of other materials. Some libraries even allow patrons to check out videogames and hobby-oriented supplies. Libraries also provide a physical space in which to make use of these materials via quiet study, entertaining presentations, and knowledgeable, educated librarians. The primary role of librarians in our society has shifted in recent years due to the influx of advanced technology such as the Internet and handheld computing devices. Patrons now have immediate access to an incalculable supply of information, allowing them the opportunity for self-service (Rubin, 2010, p. 2). However, the amount of articles, statistics, and multimedia

KEY TOPICS available online can often overwhelm patrons. Therefore, librarians have become metaphorical tour guides of information, leading patrons to credible sources. Librarians also guard this information, using their knowledge of copyright and privacy policies to ensure that patrons are given access to materials that are legal as well as informative and in line with the patrons needs. In departments that are more behind the scenes, such as technical services, librarians determine the needs of patrons and order new materials as well as organize incoming items into the catalog and make them ready for patron use. The major concern of the library is to assist patrons in the most expedient, efficient, and amiable manner possible. Impact of electronic information access. I believe that the emphasis on electronic information access must lead information professionals to pursue their obligations more aggressively. New technologies have given patrons handheld, portable access to a wealth of information and have changed the way society finds solutions to day-to-day problems. Patrons expect that they can access information on their own, that they can easily perform several tasks at once, and that this access is immediate and can be done from anywhere and at any time (Rubin, 2010). These expectations require that information professionals take steps to ensure that the information accessed is correct, legal, and relevant. This necessitates that professionals dedicate themselves to organizing materials, teaching patrons how to recognize legitimate sources, and promoting the use of common sense when seeking information. Federal privacy policies are important to consider when providing electronic information access for patrons. Personal privacy is another issue, as the Internet makes the easy access of confidential information of patrons for nefarious purposes a very real threat. Librarians should inform patrons of their legal rights and protections in information-related matters.

KEY TOPICS The state of the economy may lead more patrons to electronic materials, as they are often more affordable and more easily accessed than printed items. This has led many libraries and vendors to offer e-books. The organization of these electronic collections takes time and diligence on the part of information professionals. Overall, professionals in this field should strive to provide patrons with the knowledge necessary to use these technological advances to their best advantage. Basic Principles of Information Ethics Intellectual freedom. The basis of intellectual freedom is the uninhibited exchange of information, from initial creation to its access (Buchanan & Henderson, 2009). Intellectual freedom ensures that everyone has freedom of thought and expression as well as the right to access the informational materials expressing those thoughts. Intellectual freedom is based on the basic belief that concepts should be allowed to be formed and distributed without political or social obstacles (Rubin, 2010). This belief can have negative results in the form of propaganda or dangerous information. However, this also implies that the best option is to promote positive intellectual concepts rather than to pass judgment upon, and smother the distribution of, negative ones. To do otherwise would be to fall into censorship, the restriction of the natural flow of ideas. This is in direct conflict to the ideals behind intellectual freedom. The possible ethical implications of intellectual freedom on libraries are vast and complicated. It is the duty of the librarian to provide patrons with any information they require in the spirit of open, easy access. However, this policy can become problematic when it comes to certain situations such as young patrons requesting information about typically off limits topics such as sex, drugs, and violence. Other situations that may cast aspersions on intellectual freedom include patrons wanting information about bomb building materials and techniques or

KEY TOPICS other, similar information that, in the wrong hands, could prove dangerous to the patrons self or others. However, determining exactly how the information requested may be used is difficult and opens up many opportunities for discrimination and prejudice, no matter how well meant. Acting as a guard or blockade between patrons and the information they seek is not the usual or desired role for a librarian. To combat these concerns, many publically-funded libraries are under certain legal restrictions regarding the level of freedom they have in providing information in certain questionable situations like those described above. This is especially true of situations involving minors and obscene content. This in itself is a problem, as it implies that more affluent, private libraries are able, due to a more advanced levels of financial standing, to circumvent said legal restrictions as they see fit. This creates unfair privilege for wealthy library patrons over the poorer public. As Buchanan and Henderson (2009) say, intellectual freedom cannot - should not - be for sale (p. 28). The struggle between free, open access to information and restrictions put in place due to standards of decency is one that will likely see no concrete solution any time soon. While librarians push for the right of all to information in all of its forms, it is impossible to deny that there are certain, specific instances in which this freedom of expression could prove harmful and dangerous to the public or individual patrons. The ethical debate over intellectual freedom is just one of the many fine lines that the modern librarian must walk in order to ensure that patrons are well informed but also protected and secure. Information Life Cycle Life cycle of information from cradle to grave. There are ten separate but equally important steps in the information transfer cycle. The first of these steps is creation. In this step,

KEY TOPICS research is gathered from sources such as universities or journalists. In this step, data must be assembled to create new information. However, though the research step is very important, the information has little meaning until it is synthesized and recorded (Greer, Grover, & Fowler, 2007, p. 62). The second step is recording, in which accumulated data transferred to an electronic or printed record. The third step is reproduction. In this step, recorded information is copied so that it can be spread to a wider audience, like when a researcher sends his or her finished article to a publication to be printed. This is also the stage in which the information is evaluated and edited. If the information is found lacking, it will be declined for dissemination until it is approved. The next step is disseminationor distributionof the reproduced information to an audience. Recent advances in technology allow information to quickly reach a wider audience. Libraries organize and store this information as well as provide access to the materials patrons need. This organization for access is called bibliographic control, the next step. Bibliographic control includes the following four steps: making a complete record of all materials as they are made, the placement of materials in libraries and other information repositories, determining the location of materials using a catalog, and the application of a subject bibliography for the use of locating materials in a collection (Greer et al., 2007). This step is necessary for the easy retrieval of collected items. The next step is organization by discipline, in which unique systems may be applied to materials for the purpose of personalized organization. These specialized indexes may be used by independent agencies to tailor their retrieval needs.

KEY TOPICS Diffusion is the act of assisting information users to understand the information and make the most sense of it. Librarians have long been seen as the champions of this task, especially with the rise of overwhelming amounts of information due to advanced searching and storage technology. The next step, utilization, involves professionals and experts applying the knowledge gained from information for the advancement of mankind. Preservation ensures that recorded information be maintained in hopes of providing collected information to future generations. This includes the physical material itself, the content of the materialits place in historyas well as the actual informational content the material possesses. The final step, deletion, is when records are destroyed due to irrelevancy of content or disrepair of the physical material. This step demands regular evaluation of materials to determine their place in a collection. This step should not be taken lightly, but it is necessary. The proper application of this information life cycle allows a library or information agency to achieve its highest goal, which is to provide customized information services to satisfy the needs of its actual and potential users (Greer et al., 2007, p. 75). Core Tenants of the Library Profession Values and beliefs. It is my duty as a future librarian to provide authoritative, professional guidance to patrons on their information-seeking journey. As an educated librarian, I must act as a guardian of each patron's right to access and a safe, comfortable space. Patrons' privacy is of unquestionable importance and worthy of my constant attention, despite the difficulties of ensuring confidentiality in this age of the Internet. I value a sense of community as well as my role in protecting the public good. I will fight for the right of all people, regardless of their background, to have access to any information or service they require that the library can feasibly provide. The ability to adapt with the passage of

KEY TOPICS time and the needs of patrons is paramount to the success of both the institution itself and the community as a whole. The library must be willing to foster, encourage, and provide direct support for life-long learning. I will spark the desire in all patrons for learning and understanding, regardless of their social background and their level of previous experience with information use. I will encourage intellectual freedom for all patrons, so that they may create, use, and distribute information wisely and without fear of recrimination or undue censorship. I accept my social responsibility to aid in the solving of our most troubling problems by providing education to all in order to work towards the betterment of our society. Ability to adapt and be open to new ideas. I take seriously the integral role of technology in the modern library. I will work tirelessly to provide my patrons with programs and advanced devices to aid them in their search for educational information and entertainment resources. As a student who wishes to pursue a position in technical services, I will strive to keep my library's collection orderly and its materials relevant. I will preserve materials so that all generations might learn from them. I firmly believe that books are for use (Rubin, p. 407). I look forward to the expansion of the stereotype of libraries from a well-guarded tomb of ancient, moldy materials to a living, growing community space for active learning that houses everything from collected books to the latest interactive electronics. I accept the importance of funding the continued existence and effectiveness of libraries. I will take up the mantel to acquire much-needed monies via federal endorsements, patron endowments, and regular fundraising activities. I will respect the right of these supporters of the library to have a say in the function of the institution, but only in so far as these opinions do not compromise the values and ethics of the library and its goals to provide unconditional service to its patrons.

KEY TOPICS I accept, humbly, my role as a moral agent who must accept responsibility to myself, to other individuals, and to society as a whole (Rubin, p. 405). I will strive to remember these values throughout my career, and I will continue to reevaluate and adapt my role so as to best advance the progression of my library and the community it serves. Conclusion Despite the rapid, radical changes that the information management field has experienced in the last several years, librarians are doing their best to stay ahead of the curve. Librarians are attentive to the needs of their patrons and have striven to meet these needs with careful instruction, advanced technology, and vigorous attention to patron privacy and their right to easy access. In addition to attending to their patrons, librarians continue to provide quality materials by ensuring a long life cycle for relevant materials, no matter their format or content. Overall, librarians have met the changes of the modern age with grace and fortitude; they will doubtless continue to do so in the coming centuries no matter what shifts in the relationship between users and information may occur.

KEY TOPICS Reference Buchanan, E., & Henderson, K. (2009). Case studies in library and information science ethics. Jefferson, NC: Mcfarland and Company, Inc. Greer, R. C., Grover, R. J., & Fowler, S. G. (2007). Introduction to the library and information professions. Westport, CN: Libraries Unlimited. Rubin, R. E. (2010). Foundations of library and information science (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Neal-Schuman.

10