ETHICS OF INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM: CASE #2.

3
Gretchen Engle, Kimberly Patton, Eryn Campbell & Dylan Kuhlman

Step One: Get the Facts Straight

A statewide library association has an electronic mailing list for its members, who are able to opt out if they so chose by contacting the list administrator. The list is mainly used for posting events, association news, etc. with little or no discussion. The chair of intellectual freedom committee began posting items that pertained to the field but were also political in nature, making some other members uncomfortable.

Step Two: Identify the Moral Dilemma

As professionals, many librarians feel morally obligated to share with their colleagues information about battles they are fighting against intellectual freedom and attacks on civil liberties in their communities. According to Buchanan and Henderson (2009)
As information professionals we advocate intellectual freedom and this naturally leads to providing resources and services that create and sustain an atmosphere of free inquiry. (pg. 29) Even though the emails may seem excessive the Chair is acting with the greater good in mind.

Step Three: Evaluate the Dilemma by Using Principles of Information Ethics

Chairs Point of View

Members Point of View

Was trying to keep members informed their rights Members could remove themselves from the mailing list Stopping would go against his role on the intellectual freedom committee

The emails had historically been information only Not all members may agree with the chairs political views Emails were clogging or cluttering members email boxes

Step Four: Test Your Solution

Our group believes in the intentions of the chair to share pertinent information with the listserv. The best solution in our eyes is to encourage everyone to be aware of these postings and even if they dont want to read them that moment, to at least save them in a folder because these problems can arise at any given moment and it is good to have this information available if/when it is needed.

Reference List

Buchanan, E.A. and Henderson, K. A. (2009). Case Studies in Library and Information Science Ethics. Jefferson, NC. McFarland and Co., Inc.