Christian Librarians and the Library Bill of Rights: A Survey of Opinions and Professional Practice

This study used a survey methodology to discover how Christian librarians working in academic libraries responded to the American Library Association’s (ALA) ethical standards as embodied in the Library Bill of Rights (LBR). The results showed that while the Christian librarians surveyed largely support the LBR and adhere to it professionally, their interpretation of its sometimes ambiguous language is made through the lens of a Christian worldview and can conflict with the ALA’s interpretation. Of particular concern to the respondents were issues of collection development and access to content like pornography, violence, or other similar material that conflicts with Christian morality

“For All the People”: Public Library Directors Interpret Intellectual Freedom

Intellectual freedom is frequently seen as a core value of librarianship, especially by the American Library Association, which has issued extensive guidance to libraries about implementing intellectual freedom. Some scholars criticize these documents, arguing that they are unrealistic and do not offer meaningful support to libraries. While scholars question the value of ALA policies, it is unclear whether practicing librarians have similar concerns about the Library Bill of Rights (LBR) and related guidelines. This article describes a study of public libraries and their interpretation of the LBR in their daily practice. To investigate the role played by ALA documents, 15 public library directors across one state were interviewed. In general, the library directors did not directly cite or quote from ALA documents, yet their stances echoed ALA guidance. In addition, library directors frequently discussed the significance of community in their interpretations and implementations of intellectual freedom

Supporting intellectual freedom: Symbolic capital and practical philosophy in librarianship

Ope

Society, institutions, and common sense: Themes in the discourse of book challengers in 21st century United States

Ope

Ethically Speaking: Academic Librarians\u27 Perceptions of Information Privacy, Intellectual Freedom, and the \u3ci\u3eUSA PATRIOT Act\u3c/i\u3e

This study examined five research questions relating to U.S. academic librarians\u27 perceptions of and attitudes toward intellectual freedom, information privacy, and the USA PATRIOT Act: 1) Do academic librarians\u27 self-perceived levels of affiliation with the American Library Association affect their attitudes toward the USA PATRIOT Act (2001)? 2) Do academic librarians\u27 self-perceptions of affiliation with the American Library Association affect their attitudes regarding intellectual freedom for librarians and, if so, in which direction? 3) Does the USA PATRIOT Act (2001) compromise intellectual freedom as practiced by academic librarians? 4) Does the USA PATRIOT Act (2001) make academic librarians rethink their values and beliefs regarding intellectual freedom? 5) Does the USA PATRIOT Act (2001) make academic librarians rethink their values and beliefs regarding information privacy? A survey utilizing a random stratified sample of U.S. academic librarians (strata=type of academic library) was conducted to provide research data for these questions. Quantitative survey data was analyzed through the use of one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) and independent samples T-tests. The dependent variables for this study were librarians\u27 values and beliefs regarding a) the USA PATRIOT Act (2001); b) intellectual freedom within the library profession; c) information privacy; and d) intellectual freedom. The independent variables for this study were a) respondents\u27 self-perceived affiliation with the American Library Association; b) the categories of institution with which respondents are affiliated (community college, college, or university libraries); and c) the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act (2001). Results were not statistically significant for any research question re: the independent variable of library type, nor was the degree of affiliation with the American Library Association statistically significant. While survey respondents largely agreed with the American Library Association\u27s positions on intellectual freedom and information privacy, there still exists some disagreement regarding the extent to which the USA PATRIOT Act has truly affected librarians and their patrons

A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Historical Development of the Library Bill of Rights

This study describes a critical discourse analysis of the officially adopted versions of the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights (LBR). This analysis was performed to examine how –if at all– the LBR has materially changed since its initial version, and what this might say about the document itself, and its relationship to librarianship. The five official versions of the LBR from 1939-2019 were analyzed using Stuart Hall’s models of encoding/decoding and hegemony. The language of iteration was examined individually as well as relative to previous and subsequent versions of the document. A taxonomy was then developed. The data and their analysis suggest the LBR is the discursive practice through which hegemonic consent is created and rearticulated.Master of Science in Library Scienc

State-It: Connecting Students to the Archives

The University Archives Department at Indiana State University (ISU) assists faculty, students, and the public by providing access to and preservation of primary resources and ISU history. Despite the resources and services available, archival holdings are often underused and receive few donations from students and student organizations. These students are often unaware of the function and uses of the archives. To address these concerns, Special Collections staff have created a website utilizing the Omeka platform called STATE-IT to engage students with the University Archives. This site houses digital archival materials, digital exhibits, and oral histories. STATE-IT also provides a quick and easy access point for students to contribute images, documents, and other historical items. This paper focuses on how creating an interactive component increases students’ motivation to contribute to and use the University Archives, providing a look into the past and highlighting their current experiences and perspectives as ISU students

アメリカ図書館界とアメリカ出版界の協同 : 「読書の自由」の成立と展開

筑波大学 (University of Tsukuba)201