The Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics

Book Review Chapter 9:

Information Ethics and the Library Profession: KAY MATHIESEN and DON FALLIS

Library Reference: N/A

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Information-Computer-Ethics/dp/0471799599/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232853902&sr=8-1

Quote:  “Librarians continue today to see their central value as the promoting of intellectual freedom.”

    Basically, what this means is that librarians don’t assist people to get the information they need but also they see themselves as one who promotes the intellectual freedom.

Learning Expectation:

     From the title of the chapter itself, I am kind of curious, how Information Ethics (the computer side) would connect to a library. I mean, shouldn’t the Internet or Google be a library already? So basically, what I want to learn from this chapter is to learn the connection of both. Plus, I want to know how the library profession would even fit in Information Ethics.

Review:

    As you go along the first few pages, especially the introduction part, it is discussed that there are many libraries. All libraries are all the same, which purpose is to store all the books with all the information people need. Now, it is interesting to note how the chapter explains the librarian profession, which came in during the nineteenth century. To add to that, there are different types of librarians. There are actually three types of librarians mentioned in this chapter. The first one is the corporate librarian. Basically, the goal of the corporate librarian is to provide access to enable and enhance the activities of the corporation. The second type of librarian is the academic librarian, which can be found in school libraries. The goal of the academic librarian is to basically to provide access to enable and enhance the activities of the university. Lastly, we have the public librarian, which provides access to respond to the information needs of the members of the community.

Basically, this chapter talks about what the librarian profession is all about like the core value of the library profession, and other things about the library. It is interesting also to note the conclusion stating that librarians continue today to see their central value as the promoting of intellectual freedom.

What I’ve learned:

    I have learned that despite all the libraries we have, I never thought that a librarian could be a profession. It’s amazing to find out what value a librarian really is. Also, it’s interesting to find out the different types of librarians.

Questions:

1.    What’s the connection of the librarian to IT Ethic?

2.    How does it play a role in computers?

3.    What is a librarian to a computer?

4.    Is there a need for librarian in computer ethics?

5.    Do all librarians see themselves or even know that they are promoting intellectual freedom?

Citation: (Kenneth Einar E. Himma & Herman T. Tavani, 2008)