A personal philosophy is something that, for me, is constantly in flux. Especially as someone who enjoys books, I am someone who is constantly revising the way that I view and think about the world. What is Love? What is Truth? What is Right?
During the course, I have learned that the APA Code of Ethics and other ethical standards do a good job at shaping a starting point for this conversation. We agree that we should protect privacy, equal access and intellectual freedom. We support quality, politeness and professionalism (American Library Association, 2008). The model outlined in Severson’s book “The Principles of Information Ethics” details a similar set of principles while adding “non-maleficence” into the mix (1997).
As I continued to learn more in the course about the challenge that libraries face, through my own research and with the help of my colleagues, here, I have grown to believe that the continuing success of our profession is to be in community with other information professionals. I believe that by learning from others, we can truly define what our role is as a non-profit information provider. However, while it is important for us to define our niche in the information world, I believe that it goes even deeper than that.
I think, beyond the din of voices pulling us in one direction or the other, the most important thing in my personal philosophy is that I must always put relationships first. Whether it is coming together with other information providers, community organizations or community members, the library has the opportunity to connect people. Librarians have the power to help people in a way no one else can, by privately and patiently providing the information that people desperately need. We are envoys for those on the wrong side of the digital divide, and we are also helpers for digital natives who simply do not know how to find what they are looking for. The key behind all of this is that we must support and grow our relationships with the people we serve.
In my work at a local library, I have found that my patrons are multi-dimensional people with sub-cultures and philosophies of their own. It is true that computing is making it easier for people to bring the conversation home with them, but libraries, through digital media and their websites, are not limited to the library building, either.
Libraries are one of the few public forums left that allow people of all ages and backgrounds to participate. We are created by our communities and for our communities. We are not Starbucks with their punch cards and Frappuccino’s. We are not Google with ever more complicated algorithms. We are people. Librarians are human beings with the capacity to create and connect. We are the smiling face that greets the lonely old man or the woman who is still out of work. We are the ones who give children their first library cards, and we are the ones who kneel down on one knee so that we can hear them tell us about their favorite book. We host the story times that help young mothers connect with one another. We host resume programs that help job seekers network. We host the language classes that let new immigrants share their stories.
My philosophy as a librarian tells me that I am here to help. I am here to help people create relationships with other people and find the information they need to improve their lives. Whether it is through programs or reader’s advisory, that is what I am really doing when I say, I am a librarian.
References:
American Library Association (January, 22 2008).Code of Ethics of American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/proethics/codeofethics/codeethics
Severson, R. J. (1997). Principles of Information Ethics. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.
