Program
ALA Unit/Subunit: ALA
Meeting Type: Program
Cost: Included with full conference registration.
Open/Closed: Open
Library workers regularly encounter situations in the workplace when personal and professional ethics collide. These experiences, particularly while serving the public, require a significant amount of thoughtful reflection about ethics, professionalism, and librarianship. More recently, these ethical conflicts have become a point of conversation among library professionals via social media, blogs, and list-servs. These passionate discussions have highlighted the need for a thoughtful reflection on the ALA Code of Ethics and the complicated nature of ethics in and outside of the library.
The ALA Code of Ethics defines professional ethics of librarianship into broad principles that may be used by individuals or by individuals in the workplace. However, ethical discussions are complex and multifaceted. What is the difference between professional ethics and personal ethics? What should library professionals do when experiencing a personal and professional ethics dilemma? In this session, these questions and others will be thoughtfully examined through a series of skits involving participation from a panel of Intellectual Freedom experts, including moderator Andrew Harant, Martin Garnar, Trevor Dawes, Pam Klipsch, and audience members.
Through skits and subsequent discussions, attendees will walk with away with a deeper knowledge of the ethical dilemmas that can occur during everyday library work. Topics covered during this session may include patron behaviors, free speech, hate speech, censorship, and public use of library space. This session with reveal the complexities of professional and personal ethics and ways library workers can respond ethically, thoughtfully, and with understanding.
Andrew Harant
Branch Manager
Cuyahoga County Public Library
Pam Klipsch
Director
Jefferson County Library (Missouri)
Martin Garnar
Dean, Kraemer Family Library
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Trevor Dawes
Vice Provost for Libraries and Museums
University of Delaware