Apply the principles, ethics and philosophy of the profession while serving patrons, institutions, and communities.

  • Letter to an Angry Patron
    • A letter responding to a hypothetical patron who is upset that the librarians allowed their child to check out a book about the reproductive process.
  • Crowdsourcing in the Humanities
    • A short essay on what crowdsourcing is, how it has been implemented thus far, and the future potential of the practice.
  • Three Case Studies
    • Three hypothetical case studies about patrons seeking reference help on questionable issues, and the correct responses to be made according to the ALA’s code of ethics.

This goal corresponds to the following ALA Core Competencies:

1A. The ethics, values, and foundational principles of the library and information profession.

1B. The role of library and information professionals in the promotion of democratic principles and intellectual freedom (including freedom of expression, thought, and conscience).

1C. The history of libraries and librarianship.

1D. The history of human communication and its impact on libraries.

1E. Current types of library (school, public, academic, special, etc.)and closely related information agencies.

1F. National and international social, public, information, economic, and cultural policies and trends of significance to the library and information profession.

1G. The legal framework within which libraries and information agencies operate. That framework includes laws relating to copyright, privacy, freedom of expression, equal rights (e.g., the Americans with Disabilities Act), and intellectual property.