This tag was created by Curtis Fletcher. The last update was by Sarah Tribelhorn.
Program Goal B
Controversial Collection Assessment
In LIM 502: Collection Development and Management, I was tasked with critically analyzing a hypothetical collection gifted to a library. The donor was offering a considerable unrestricted financial donation to the library that was affected by recent budget cuts provided the library accepted an extensive collection of Holocaust denial literature. Although my initial reaction was to not accept this collection based on the fundamental values and professional ethics of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), the ALA Code of Ethics also includes intellectual freedom as a core value (ALA, 2017b). Therefore, faced with the challenge of this collection I advocated for accepting it and the large donation, provided the money was used to support the library and this new collection by hiring new staff members with a focus on EDI initiatives and marketing, developing a rigorous information literacy curriculum, focusing on inclusive collection development for the community, and revising and continually updating the collection development policy. In addition, I also proposed the development of a sustainable budget, so that the library relies less on donor gifts, but develops a culture of grant writing and fundraising. These suggestions were aligned with the ALA professional ethics (ALA, 2017b) and core values (ALA, 2020).Teaching Philosophy
For an assignment in LIM 511: Instruction Strategies for Information Professionals I was tasked with preparing a professional teaching philosophy. To articulate my personal teaching philosophy and develop this authentically, I again visited the ALA professional ethics (ALA, 2017b) and core values (ALA, 2020). I articulated the approaches that I take to include my underlying philosophy of sustainability in all things, considering the final outcomes of my teaching and always encouraging environmentally sound, economically feasible, and socially equitable practices, and using my teaching and instruction to strengthen communities. Furthermore, I articulated how I focus on the importance of information literacy, engaging learners to critically evaluate information, as well as encouraging active learning, while respecting the principles of intellectual freedom. My professional teaching philosophy is a dynamic document that I will revise and update regularly, revisiting the ALA ethics and core values through my own professional growth.Experiences in the University of California Berkeley, Oral History Center
During my internship at UC Berkeley, OHC for LIM 595: Research and Professional Applications: Internship, I wrote weekly reports on how the activities related to core competencies of library professionals that culminated in a final report. The core competencies included aspects of core values and ethics, and this reflection solidified my understanding of these, and I was able to effectively articulate these and apply them to my work. Core competencies articulated by Gutsche and Howe (2014) and exhibited during this internship included, but were not limited to effective communication, learning and innovation, collaboration, and leadership. In addition, the ALA core competencies specifically outlined for metadata information professionals of knowledge, skill and ability were also met during this internship (ALA, 2017a). Throughout the internship, the process highlighted the importance of remaining unbiased, and being cognizant of cultural biases, and how this affects information accessibility and discoverability. It is necessary to ensure the metadata quality is high, and that the metadata is aligned with the broader mission of the institution; moreover, that it is compliant with professional ethics.Conclusion
Professional ethical standards have been established by the ALA to help information professionals navigate ethical conflicts and challenges that could arise within their libraries or information organizations, as well as provide a foundation for their organizations. The three experiences discussed above, the assessment of a controversial collection, development of a personal teaching philosophy, and metadata creation during my internship, highlighted the importance of professional ethics and values that are fundamental to the working life of information professionals, and their importance as a foundation to resolve potential conflicts and ensure intellectual freedom and EDI. They have provided me with a deep understanding of the need to continually revisit core values to ensure they reflect professional ethics and to overcome personal biases. Furthermore, as I embark on a career as an information professional, I can use these values and ethics, and what I have learned in the process of analyzing their importance to the profession as a foundation to reference in the future.References
American Library Association. (2017a, January 23). Core competencies for cataloging and metadata professional librarians. https://alair.ala.org/bitstream/handle/11213/7853/Core%20Competencies%20Cataloging%20Metadata%20Professional.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=yAmerican Library Association. (2017b, May 19). Professional ethics. https://www.ala.org/tools/ethics
American Library Association. (2020, September 28). Core values of librarianship. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/corevalues
Gutsche, N., & Hough, B. (Eds.). (2014). Competency index for the library field. WebJunction. https://www.webjunction.org/content/dam/WebJunction/Documents/webJunction/2015-03/Competency%20Index%20for%20the%20Library%20Field%20(2014).pdf