The mention of information policy in libraries goes hand in hand with the Library Bill of Rights. I know that most of you already have these in your head but just to reiterate here they are:
I. Books and other library resources should provide for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because or partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to providing information and enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
This might sound like it is more along the lines of intellectual freedom, but that is also under the umbrella when it comes to a library’s information policy. The policy for each and every library should focus and revolve around social, economical, technical, and legal aspects of information technologies and focus on several different issues such as intellectual freedom, intellectual property, privacy, equity of access to information, ethics of information use and service, censorship, etc… The libraries information policy should encompass all of these aspects while following the Library Bill of Rights because that is the foundation of national library information policy as stated by the ALA. The Library Bill of Rights entire purpose is to guide the basic policies of the library. When instituting a policy regarding information you should basically have compiled position statements, shared principles, and statutes.
As librarians following the Library Bill of Rights is a solid basis for information policies. It explains the removal and abridgment of materials, challenging censorship, and has cooperation with all persons who might have something negative or positive to say about the information that is provided to the public in our venues. It is an excellent tool to use even when it comes to collection development, for both children and adult services. The majority of information policies come into play when dealing with youths in libraries. To narrow that down even further, internet policies for children, and how to limit potentially harmful or graphic materials to the children without upsetting both sides of the arguments. Having an information policy that informs librarians how to act when certain materials come in front of them helps prevent expurgation of library materials, which is a violation of the Library Bill of Rights and correctly implemented policies regarding the information in your library.
When implementing information policies in your library you have to be very careful not to upset the gentle balance that is a public library. Appease all that enter those doors as much a humanly possible and stay within the library bill of rights. The policies implemented should support the mission of the library by providing users with additional opportunities for information, education, and recreation.
Sources:
Library Bill of Rights:
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementsif/librarybillrights.cfm
Interpretations of Bill of Rights:
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementsif/interpretations/Default675.cfm
Hayden, Carla. From Outreach to Equity: Innovative Models of Library Policy and Practice. American Library Association. 2004.
Willett, Holly G. Public Library Youth Services: A Public Policy Approach: Contemporary Studies in Information Management, Policies, and Services. Ablex Publishing. 1995.
Wood, Frank W. Hoffman, Richard J. Library Collection Development Policies. Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Inc. 2007.
11 comments:
Gabriel, I smiled when reading your post because when the Intellectual Freedom group was organizing its blog topics and when I was writing about the Library Bill of Rights under intellectual freedom, I was thinking the same thing--that it definitely also falls under the umbrella of Information Policy (and I was a little bit frustrated when I realized that the impact of intellectual property rights on information access, which I'm really interested in, was more appropriate to this group than to IF).
Anyway, there's one thing you said that would be great if it could be done: "Appease all that enter those doors as much as humanly possible and stay within the library bill of rights." I observed something like the following happen recently: An adult patron was incensed that another adult patron was watching porn on a computer because the incensed one didn't think these images belonged on a computer library screen. Clearly the incensed one was going to walk away unappeased, because the Library Bill of Rights--in the absence of any law on the adult viewing of non-child porn to the contrary--seems to protect patrons' rights to watch porn. (Let me tell you, at that moment in that library, the atmosphere wasn't much of a "gentle balance". :-) )
And here's my question: Much of the semester, we've been talking about how each library should meet the needs of, and tailor its specific policies to, its particular community. But does that mean that the library should simply cater to--or appease--its community members? Or could it mean that, in addition to stocking the types of materials that the community seems to be interested in, the library should also--BASED ON the make-up of that community--provide some materials that might cause a little controversy? (We've touched on this issue in other blogs, particularly I.F.'s, I think.)
So, is a public library really doing its job if it's only a repository for books and other information that keep the community content? And yes, I know that it depends on what the library views its job as being. But I guess I'm asking here what you think its job is, because that does necessarily impact what information policy it will adopt.
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementsif/librarybillrights.cfm
I forgot to ask this in my last post. Just in case you think that pornography (the subject of my last post) strains the definition of "information"--as I often myself do--then I'm curious to know what (ALA-consistent) definition of information you would use instead.
The Library Bill of Rights is at the core of information policy in this country. I enjoyed this post because it showed that the LBOR is a sort of skeleton from which different institutions can hang their policy needs. It is so good in the role the ALA has not been able to improve upon it, according to Don Sager in his article The Search for Librarianship's Core Values. As a member of a specially appointed council it was his job to draw up a document that embodied the very core values (values that could be made into specific policy by any institution) of the profession in 1999 and 2000. The main point I took from Sager's article was that such a code was extremely difficult to draw up. The full attention of ALA leadership could not create a satisfactory document for the entire organization.
The Library Bill of Rights has stood up over the years as a singularly succinct and workable expression of the values of the profession. It really seems to hold the place of a statement of core values, despite any recent efforts to further codify guiding principles.
Source:
Sager, D. (2001). The Search for Librarianship's Core Values. Public Libraries, 40 No.3, 149-153.
Nearly every career has a set of guidelines or a code. While these guidelines are not law, its what people in that profession should strive to stand by. It is what keeps that profession in check, keeps them in communication. Doctors have their oath, if they did not have to swear to their oath, do you think Drs would all just be doing their own thing. Librarians don't have to swear to the ALA Bill of Rights but we all certain respect and follow some of the guidelines, to keep things in order. This is why the Bill of Rights is important for Librarians to at least know. To reference back too.
I do not think a library is doing its job if it only shelves books that the community approves. This takes me back to a book I wrote about in the banned books paper. "Tango Makes Three" is a cute little childrens book that is challenged because of homosexuality undertones. If this book was not shelved and subsequently challenged, then these issues would not be debated. This needs to be debated so people will learn. The library and books are where all this begins.
I think that Yashmyn brought up a very good point in her post “Or could it mean that, in addition to stocking the types of materials that the community seems to be interested in, the library should also--BASED ON the make-up of that community--provide some materials that might cause a little controversy?” I think that it is important for public libraries to provide materials that community members request and are generally interested, but I also think it is important to provide materials showing different viewpoints as well. It states in the Library Bill of Rights “Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.” No matter what community your library services I think it is important to provide materials your patrons might not be aware of, material they might think they would not be interested in, and material that provides different viewpoints.
Yashmyn,
I think your questions about whether libraries should only catar to what community members want is an important one, especially considering other conversations that were had in earlier blogs. I remember one question about what librarian would you hire if one candidate constantly purchased eyebrow raising materials and the other didn't. I think there is a real difference between constantly ordering shocking material and ordering material that provides a broader view of a topic but that community member might not all be happy to see.
A couple years ago someone told me about a library that had a sign that said "If nothing in the library offends you, please complain at the desk". I can't remember what library or even who told me about this (nor have I verified if such a sign really exists) but I think it sums up my feelings on this question. That being you can not appease everyone who walks into the door and nor should you want to. It is not our job to purchase materials for our perspective libraries that only contains points of view our communities agree with. I'm not saying we should look for offensive materials for the sake of having it, but that we should provide as many broad perspectives on different topics as possible. For instance, I mentioned some time ago in a blog that a woman took offense to a book on gay weddings being on display. This woman found this book offensive but it filled a multitude of purposes from being a resource to our gay community members to also being a counter to the school of thought that members of the LGBT community cannnot have strong, commited relationships. No doubt, a response of removing the book from the collection would have appeased this woman, but I would hope that this would not be something that most librarians would actually do.
That being said, I feel that attempting to appease everyone is not what we are here to do. Furthermore, such an attempt could actually be a disservice to our communities.
After reading Yashmyn's comment here is what I wonder: I think for the most part we don't want to see pornography in public places like libraries but how many of us would defend the pornography watcher in their right to use library materails for such a purpose? In an anthroplogy book I read a few years back the author was realying some information about pornography and culture that would have needed her to use the internet in order to explain. Her assesments were in no way lewd or sexually tinged but if we deny the patrons looking for "personal enjoyment" from those materials we may also be inhibiting legitimate research. We may not like it, we may find it offensive, we may just think its stupid and below the standards of what we want to present to our community but ultimately the resposibilty is ours to present materials that would be able to reach our community in any way that may be neccesary. According to Frank Zappa, "Without deviation from the norm progress is not possible". The more avenues and for disseminating and receiving information the better. The more material the community has to choose from the better. I found this on the ALA website, "Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us."—Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas," The One Un-American Act," Nieman Reports, vol. 7, no. 1 (Jan. 1953): p. 20.
American Library Association 3-28-08
Intellectual Freedom Issues
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/ifissues/Default883.cfm
I'm really impressed that the Library Bill of Rights is so relevant to the topics that we've been covering so far in this class. It shows that it is a well-thought out and versatile document. I like that it's proving to be important to all of these topics.
I'm not sure that I agree that it's a library's job to appease its patrons in all areas. Sure, a library serves its community and its needs, but librarians have other considerations, such as budget limitations and professional ethics. Yes, you as a librarian should do all you can to meet the demands of your patrons, but you have to stay within your library's means and your own capabilities.
This is a really interesting discussion. Imagine how easy it would be if a community had obvious and uniform viewpoints on everything. It might be tempting for some librarians to just purchase items for the collection that go along with popular opinion, and then they would only be using half the budget that other libraries might use for the same topics! I think though, it is our responsibility as information professionals to try to cover as much ground on all topics as possible. Also, an important service to the community I believe is to shake things up, start discussions, and make sure the residents are forming well-informed and researched opinions. Everyone will be the better for it.
I agree with Xanthe- it is really amazing how relevant the Library Bill of Rights has been to discussions this semester.
I also like the point that was made in another comment that LBOR is like a skeleton model which can be adapted by different institutions to fit their needs. I think that this challenges us as future librarians to really grab hold of the Library Bill of Rights, to really learn it and become familiar with it so that when we arrive in the libraries where we will be working we can better adapt it to our needs and most importantly the needs of our patrons.
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