In my Reference and Information textbook for O'Connor's class, which I have not yet been to, they talk about the ethics that go along with being a reference librarian and guiding patrons to the information they desire. Every time I think of ethics, I think of the opening speech from Miller's Crossing. Great Coen brothers movie. One of the best openings I can think of. Johnny Caspar is a typical greasy, angry mobster. Makes me want to watch the movie all over again. "I'm sick of the high hat!!!" Makes me laugh every time.
But that's another one of those things that I hadn't thought of. The ethics associated with librarianship. People trusting you to find information that they need, or they would not have asked in the first place. The text says that patrons may be embarrassed about their question, and librarians should not assume how the patron wants the information presented. Being shy by nature, I cannot imagine asking a stranger a question that embarrasses me, unless it was a doctor or possibly a lawyer, someone I know is bound by confidentiality. It never occurred to me that librarians must also respect the same confidentiality. It is a profession that will not work without the trust of the public.
That's pretty cool.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment