SLO #1: The student assesses the philosophy, principles, and ethics of the library and information

field.

Over the course of my two years in UNCG’s LIS Graduate Program, I believe almost all
of my classes have touched on the ethics and philosophies involved in the library and
information field. However, it was my 600 class (Foundations of LIS) which first introduced me
to the ALA Code of Ethics, and most permanently ingrained in me the true duty of the library
and librarian. We used Sandra Hirsch’s Information Services Today as a tool for learning the
basic principles of librarianship, and were instructed to write two reflection papers detailing what
we gleaned from her book.
At first, this seemed like busywork to me, but as Flannery O’Conner once said, “I write
to discover what I know.” As I wrote, I realized that I had come to believe very strongly in
adapting to the needs of the community, being sure that we are effective in meeting those needs,
and protecting the rights of our patrons. I had developed the conviction not only that censorship
was wrong, but that it was sneaky and could present itself in many forms, from the
withholding/giving of donor funds, to my own subtle biases in collection management. I had
become an advocate, not just of the importance of libraries in general, but of the importance of
libraries to marginalized communities. The homeless, the imprisoned, the poor, the elderly, and
especially those in countries not nearly as blessed with technological connection as our own
often view libraries as a lifeline to the outside world, as a beacon of hope. (This dedication to
advocacy would later lead me to work in the field of prison librarianship, which will be
discussed in SLO #4).
After writing those reflection papers, I looked back at the ALA Code of Ethics. Yes, we
strive for excellence and provide the highest level of service to all users. We fight for
intellectual freedom and property rights, and safeguard the privacy of our patrons. We treat
everyone with equal respect and always put the needs of the library and our customers first. I
had learned and come to believe all of that. But mostly I realized that the librarian had only one
real job, and that is to serve. In the concluding paragraph of my first reflection paper I wrote,

“Librarianship is a service profession. We meet the needs of the community. But

it is more than that. Librarians are also guardians… in so many ways. We protect
the rights, privacy, and privileges of every patron we serve. We guard the
integrity of the library, never allowing anyone to directly and inappropriately limit
the information provided there. We know our community, and we actively strive
to anticipate their needs and put them first. We walk in the wake giants, who
have built a legacy of trust between the library and the public. We protect and
uphold that legacy. Serve and guard – that is what we do.”

That is our duty. When I began this program I wanted to specialize in academic librarianship.
By the end of the first semester, I wanted to work in the public library system because this class
had instilled in me a desire to serve first those who are often left out and forgotten. If that’s not
the guiding principle and ethic of the library and information field, I don’t know what is.