The Code of Librarianship

1
The Code of Librarianship

• or How To Remain Faithful To Our Values In
  Interesting (or Uninteresting) Times

2
Questions Raised

• What Challenges Do Current Library Practices Pose
  For Maintaining User Privacy?
• How Can Librarians Respond To Those Challenges?

3
Threats To Privacy

• In Existence Well Before 9/11
• Rise of Personalization and Flexible Service
• Tyranny of the Convenient
• Privacy is Inversely Proportional To Convenience

4
Need For A Model Of Library Operations

• Model Provides A Simplified View Of Operations
• Models Can Assist In Conceptualizing Problems And
  Solutions

5
Lessigs Model Of Digital Entities

• Code And Other Laws Of Cyberspace
• http//code-is-law.org/

6
Lessigs Model
Law
DL
Market
Norms
Code
7
Law

• NY CPLR 4509 Library Records
• 50 USCA 1861 Access to Business Records

8
Norm
"We protect each library user's right to privacy
and confidentiality with respect to information
sought or received, and materials consulted,
borrowed, acquired or transmitted.'' ALA Code of
Ethics Section III, June 28, 1995
9
Code

• Code Used In The Sense Of Technology Used
• Information Architecture
• Devices That Collect Personally Identifiable
  Information (PII)

10
Code (cont)

• Circulation System
• ILL
• Journal Searches (Proxy Authentication)
• E-Mail Reference Questions
• Virtual Reference

11
Interaction Of Norms And Code
DL
Norms
Code
12
Need For A Privacy Audit

• Provides A Snapshot Of What PII Is Collected
• A Method To See If The Code Of Our Library Is
  Consistent With Our Norms

13
Conclusion
Nothing is inevitable if we pay attention.
Marshall McLuhan