Readings for IRLS 520

Textbook:

There is no required text for this course.  However, the following book on information ethics is highly recommended:

Spinello, Richard A. 1995. Ethical Aspects of Information Technology. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Readings:  The readings for this course are listed below according to topic.

1. Some readings are on the web. (W)
2. Other readings are available online from the UA Library (e.g., through JSTOR, Expanded Academic ASAP, etc.). (L)
3. Still other readings (viz., those which do not have links) are available through electronic reserves.  The password will be provided when classes begin. (ER)

Discussion Questions: There are discussion questions for reflection on each of the readings. Come to class prepared to discuss them.

Supplementary Material: For further help understanding the readings and issues and for exploring further topics of interest I have posted a set of supplementary material. Most notably, it contains Professor Don Fallis' lectures for his virtual 520 course. The supplementary materials can be found at .

 
The Mission of the Information Professional

Ortega y Gasset, José. 1961. "The Mission of the Librarian." Antioch Review 2:133-54. (ER)

Wengert, Robert. 2001. "Some Ethical Aspects of Being an Information Professional." Library Trends 49:486-509. (L)

Codes of Ethics

• American Library Association. 1995. "Code of Ethics." (W)
• American Society for Information Science and Technology. 1992. "ASIST Professional Guidelines." (W)
• American Library Association. 1996. "Library Bill of Rights." (W)
• Society of American Archivists. 1992. "A Code of Ethics for Archivists." (W)

Ethical Theories

Spinello, Richard A. 1995. "Frameworks for Ethical Analysis." Pp. 14-44 in Ethical Aspects of Information Technology. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. (ER)

Woodward, Diana. 1990. "A Framework for Deciding Issues in Ethics." Library Trends 39:8-17. (ER)

Woodward, Diana. 1990. "Paternalistic Censorship and Privacy Protection." Library Trends 39:5-7. (ER)

Information Ethics

Moor, James H. 1985. "What Is Computer Ethics?" Metaphilosophy 16:266-75. (W)

Floridi, Luciano. 2001. "Information Ethics: An Environmental Approach to the Digital Divide." Philosophy in the Contemporary World 9:1-7. (W)

Mathiesen, Kay. 2004. "What Is Information Ethics?" Computers and Society 32. (W)

Intellectual Freedom

Doyle, Tony. 2001. "A Utilitarian Case for Intellectual Freedom in Libraries." Library Quarterly 71:44-71. (L)

Mill, John Stuart. 1859. "Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion." On Liberty. (W)

Wolkoff, Kathleen Nietzke. 1996. "The Problem of Holocaust Denial Literature in Libraries." Library Trends 45:87-96. (L)

Nesta, Fred and Henry Blanke. 1991. "Warning: Propaganda!" Library Journal (May 15):41-43. (W)

Baldwin, Gordon B. 1996. "The Library Bill of Rights--A Critique." Library Trends 45:7-27. (L)

ALA Intellectual Freedom Basics


Supreme Court decision for United States vs. the American Library Association  (W)


Access to Information

Sheerin, William E. 1991. "Absolutism on Access and Confidentiality: Principled or Irresponsible?" American Libraries (May):440-44. (L)

Privacy
• <>Warren and Brandeis, "The Right to Privacy" (W)
• Thomson, Judith Jarvis. 1975. "The Right to Privacy." Philosophy and Public Affairs 4:295-314. (L)
• Garoogian, Rhoda. 1991. "Librarian/Patron Confidentiality: An Ethical Challenge." Library Trends 40:216-33. (ER)
Intellectual Property

The History of Copyright in the U.S. Association of Research Libraries. (W)

Copyright and Fairuse Overview Stanford University Libraries. (W)

Harper, Georgia K. 2001. "Copyright Crash Course." (W)

Hettinger, Edwin C. 1989. "Justifying Intellectual Property." Philosophy and Public Affairs 18:31-52. (L)

Vaidhyanathan, Siva. 2002. "Copyright As Cudgel." The Chronicle of Higher Education 48:B7. (W)