Overview

Ethics and Values in Librarianship: A History addresses the processes of development of library and information sciences, largely but not exclusively in a western context. It focuses on the field’s ethics and values. Here, Wallace Koehler, a leading researcher in the area of information ethics, debunks the prevailing notion that library and information science concepts and ethics have and remain constant. He demonstrates that in almost all areas of practice, this is simply not so. Instead of staying the same, our professional ethics and standards have evolved or shifted in their application as well as in the recognition of those standards by practitioners and users. Some of these changes are of very recent etiology. Topics covered include: · the freedom of expression, · intellectual freedom, · libraries and democracy, · intellectual property, copyright, and fair use and, · professional qualifications and credentialing. Koehler examines the development of and changes to library and information science through practice and the writings of library and information theorists and practitioners from Varro during the reign of Julius Caesar to the present. He documents technological and social changes that have had foundational implications for the information professions and argues that ethical standards may be redefined overtime and new standards may emerge, older precepts and newer ones coexist. Not only a history, this is also one of the few contemporary books suitable for use in foundational courses and courses covering information and library ethics.

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9781442254268

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Reviews

The intellectual and philosophical foundations of Western librarianship are discussed with verve and depth in Library Values and Ethics: A History. Dr. Wallace Koehler engages with sweeping concepts spanning works from polymath Marcus Terentius Varro (116 BC - 27 BC) to the digital revolution and ethical infosphere in the twenty-first century as examined by Luciano Floridi . Library Values and Ethics: A History is required reading for students and information workers who wish to understand the theoretical development of librarianship. -- Kathleen de la Pena McCook, Distinguished Professor of Librarianship, School of Information, University of South Florida In the words of the Elvis Presley song, 'It takes a big man to wear big boots'. Information ethics are a big pair of boots and Wallace Koehler proves he's a big enough man to wear them. He walks us around an extensive literature from Library Science and various philosophical domains showing a sure tread and a firm, consistent sense of direction. This book will be a welcome resource for librarians and students for many years to come. -- Paul Sturges, Emeritus Professor, Loughborough University, UK, and Chair of IFLA Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression Committee 2003-2009 Wallace Koehler's book on the history of information ethics brings together the small but growing body of literature that traces the historical development and evolution of information and professional ethics. The wide ranging topics and reference to issues and context far beyond libraries makes the book appealing to disciplines far beyond libraries. It also serves as a bridge between the library field and other fields interested in information technology and its ethical implications for information. -- Dick Kawooya, Assistant Professor, School of Library and Information Science, University of South Carolina

Author Information

Dr. Wallace Koehler recently retired as the (founding) director of the LIS Program at Valdosta State University (VSU) in Georgia. He was on the VSU faculty for thirteen years. Before VSU, he was on the faculty of the University of Oklahoma. He is now professor emeritus at VSU. Dr. Koehler holds a MS from the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. from Cornell University. His research interests include information ethics and bibliometrics. His contributions to the bibliometric literature include analyses of the life cycle of web documents. He is among the first to publish in that area. His research into information ethics includes codes of ethics and professional organizations as well as surveys of practitioners in a number of countries. He is the coauthor (with June Lester) of two editions ofFundamentals of Information Studies: Understanding Information and Its Environment.

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