The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest library association in the world. They provide accreditation to library science/information science/library and information science degrees across the USA and Canada, along with one program in the UK currently awaiting accreditation. Many librarian positions require an ALA-accredited master’s degree.

One important document from the ALA is the Code of Ethics. This document was last updated in 2021 to include racial and social justice. It details the ethical responsibilities of libraries and librarians. The freedom and privacy of our patrons should always come first, and the code of ethics exists to protect this.

If you plan to add libraries to your own worldbuilding (and you should, in my biased opinion), make sure to consider library ethics. Does a code like this exist? If not, why? One good example of libraries without these ethics is the library system I helped my current DM put together for the City of Brass in the Plane of Fire - instead of protecting patrons, they track who uses what items and for how long, even going so far as to require payment for access to certain information.

I’ve included the full text below the cut, since Tumblr gets fussy with links - if you’d like to read it on the ALA’s website instead, just go to your search engine of choice and search “ALA Code of Ethics.”

And after that, I’m going to let my professional ethics guide me. Especially III and VI, which I also take to mean that I protect people from institutional injustice. That’s 8 more ethics than trvmp has! 

Reminder: the government needs a warrant to access your library records. Librarians only keep track of books you have currently checked out. Once you return an item, the book is unattached from your account and I have never figured out a way to trace it back. Librarians don’t want to give your info to the government! This was put in place after the Patriot Act. 

I’m calling in sick on the 20th, so as to take part in the nation wide boycott. The only thing I’m going to pay for that day is a donation to Planned Parenthood. I might go visit lovely grandma! I’m gonna make some tea and watch some movies I already have! No money and no eyes on the inaugural activities. 

And on the 21st, I’m going to the Minnesota March. See you on the John Ireland bridge. 

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/proethics/codeofethics/codeethics

”We significantly influence or control the selection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information. In a political system grounded in an informed citizenry, we are members of a profession explicitly committed to intellectual freedom and the freedom of access to information. We have a special obligation to ensure the free flow of information and ideas to present and future generations.”

We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests.

We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources.

We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.

We respect intellectual property rights and advocate balance between the interests of information users and rights holders.

We treat co-workers and other colleagues with respect, fairness, and good faith, and advocate conditions of employment that safeguard the rights and welfare of all employees of our institutions.

We do not advance private interests at the expense of library users, colleagues, or our employing institutions.

We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional duties and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation of the aims of our institutions or the provision of access to their information resources.

Class last week was so much fun! It's been so long since I've sat around and discussed fiction with people. I also really liked that we mixed the groups up a bit so we got to talk with new people. I want to send a special shout out to Kara and Alissa for having non-wheat based treats (yay gummis!)

Comment Response: Caitlin W. asked why my previous book club experience was bad. The main reason was lack of planning. It was a group of 5 in Taipei, which is a rather spread out city. We couldn't agree on a place and time where everyone could get together. When we finally did manage to organize, half the group hadn't read the book. Oh well, I did get to reread The Bell Jar, so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

On to the Readings:

ALA Code of Ethics:

Not the first time I've read this, of course. It seems to come up in classes like we were in, I don't know, Library School. I like the way these are worded. I think they really strive to articulate the way librarians want to allow anyone to get the information he or she wants. I also appreciate the respect for intellectual property rights, especially since there are so many questions as to what "intellectual property rights" actually means.

Mosley, 1998 "Creating a Library Assignment Workshop for University Faculty"

This article covered an approach to teaching a workshop for professors with the goal to help them design their library assignments more successfully. It seemed the librarians were having some trouble with confused students all looking for the same materials. It sounds like a pretty successful workshop, but I am curious as to how they worded the invitation. A lot of professors might take offense at some librarian telling them how to write assignments. Anyway, it does echo back to one of the articles the Diamond Group read for last week: "The Four Habits of Highly Effective Librarians." It's all about collaboration, and the more we talk to our colleagues, the better our services can be.

Open Letter to Librarians from Harper Collins

Huh, it's funny how reasonable they try to make the issue sound. The poor corporation trying to make sure they still have an incentive to allow libraries to have ebooks. Sorry, I shouldn't get sarcastic. The fact of the matter is, we are all still figuring out digital media and everyone is going to make mis-steps.

The 27th Patron

It was nice to get an author's perspective. Especially since Harper Collins is claiming that they made their decision in part because of the authors. Johnson makes some great points that she chose to work with HC because they like libraries and is very upset that they are now trying to gouge the same people.

USA Today

OK, so this was mostly just an overview of the issue, but USA today is always pretty good at getting the point across in a concise manner.