Competency 1

Competency 1: articulate the ethics, values and foundational principles of library and information professionals and their role in the promotion of intellectual freedom

The very idea of a science of information implies a methodology and reason. Aristotle said, "The law is reason, free from passion." Our forefathers had the same democratic values when they penned the Bill of Rights. Looking at the First Amendment, the essence of intellectual freedom was born and continues to be at the heart of library science today.

• "First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

In libraries all across our country, access to information is available as a human right. ALA (The American Library Association) addresses intellectual freedom in the Library Bill of Rights. But today, passion enters many a debate as social issues drive citizens into extreme passions right or left, up or down. It is our job as librarians to adhere to our principles, free of passion, and to provide information free of abridgment, censorship, or bias. This principle should be applied to every aspect of librarianship including collection development, disputed titles, cataloging, and so on. Reason will tell us that our profession (especially in the public library) is a service, and that intellectual freedom is a human right, and we are the facilitators and defenders of that right.

The Library Bill of Rights shown below states the primary principals of intellectual freedom and of the librarian's place in the library.

"The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

I. Books and other library resources should be provided 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 of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide 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 that 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."

Source: ALA Library Bill of Rights

In the examples and artifacts linked here, as a library student, I reflected my views of the right of patrons to access information.

Demonstrative Works:

Artifact 1 is a blog named Burning Desire for Banned Books: Controversial Literature for Teens, and was created for LIBR 261, Controversial Literature for Teens. It was taught by Professor Bodart, a leader in defense against teen literature censorship, intellectual freedom, and the right of teens to read. I created this blog as a result of this class and the profound affect it had upon me. The teen (or young adult) genre today is exploding with popularity and as a result young readers are facing an explosion of backlash from parents, religious leaders, and other opposing forces. For teens a delicate balancing act between becoming an adult (with the implied rights), and being seen as a child, is taking place within their world. It is my belief that teens need the freedom to read, free from passion and censorship, so that they may be able to discern, grow, and contribute to society as fully informed adult. I believe that opposers should be treated with respect as well and the best way to do so is to inform. Teens, like adults, have the same rights to intellectual freedom as adults. This blog gathers 45 titles for teens, all of which deal with tender and controversial literature. All the literature in this blog has been challenged or seen as controversial in the library world for reasons spanning from inappropriate language, to violence and sexual content. With this blog I show that I believe in intellectual freedom, free from opinion or bias. I defend the right to oppose censorship.

Artifact 2 is a Mock Presentation defending challenged author Francesca Lia Block in a PowerPoint presentation and challenge paper. It is a fictional response to a library challenge and protential banning of Weetzie Bat, by Block from a religious objector, and aims to create a presentation for the board on history of the title, author, and current controversy. It also includes steps to be taken to address the banning. This assignment was worked on with fellow SLIS student Megan DeTour. We approached the entire project as a team and each took part in every aspect of the assignment as well as presented it together, live, on SJSU SLIS' Elluminate, fielding questions after. In front of the students and professor Megan presented the second half while I started of the Elluminate "lecture" by presenting the first part. We were then asked questions by the professor and our fellow students that may be faced to us in an actual board meeting. We answered them based on fact and were given a tough lesson on how important it is to stay away from passionate responses as they tend to be bias. Many questions were heated and personal. It gave us a valuable lesson that further enforced our belief in intellectual freedom and the need to stick to reason and human rights.

Artifact 1: Blog Burning Desire for Banned Books: Controversial Literature for Teens

Artifact 2: Mock Presentation defending challenged Author Francesca Lia Block PowerPoint Presentation and Challenge Paper