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IRLS 520 Outline and Readings.

Last altered 8/18/05 Under revision.

 

Introduction

 

The course is conceived of as discussions on 15 (or so) topics. A lecture course in the University of Arizona amounts to 37 1/2 hours of instruction spread through a semester. Our 'discussions' will be the virtual counterpart of 30 (or so) one hour and fifteen minute lectures, delivered at a rate of two a week. There will be notes, readings, discussion groups, and, possibly, conferencing (or online chat).

It is my practice to add references or make alterations as and when that seems appropriate.

General readings

 

Textbook:

Spinello, Richard A. [1995], Ethical Aspects of Information Technology, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Prentice Hall. ISBN 0130459313 (pbk)

There is no requirement that you buy this-- feel free to, of course, but we need only one small section of it (which we will make available online).

'Reading Packet:'

[These days we give electronic access to what you require, there is no physical reading packet.]

Baldwin, G. B. [1996], 'The Library Bill of Rights--A Critique.', Library Trends 45(1), 7-27

Crowe, L. and Anthes, S. [1988], 'The Academic Librarian and Information Technology: Ethical Issues', College and Research Libraries, 49(2), 123-130

Frické, M. Mathiesen K. and Fallis D. [2000], 'The Ethical Presuppositions behind the Library Bill of Rights', The Library Quarterly, 70(4), 468-491

Doyle, Tony [2001] 'A Utilitarian Case for Intellectual Freedom In Libraries', The Library Quarterly, 71(1), 44-71

Garoogian, R. [1991], 'Librarian/Patron Confidentiality: An Ethical Challenge.', Library Trends 40(2), 216-33

Gremmels, G. [1991], 'Reference in the Public Interest: An Examination of Ethics', Research Quarterly, 30(3), 362-369.

Held, Virginia [1995], 'Non-Contractual Society', in Weiss, Penny and Friedman, Marilyn, Feminism and Community, ISBN 1566392772, pp. 209-232

McCain, Roger A. [1988 ] 'Information as Property and as a Public Good: Perspectives from the Economic Theory of Property Rights', The Library Quarterly, 58(3) , 265-282

Nesta Fred & Henry Blanke [1991], 'Warning Propaganda', Library Journal, May. 1991, 41-43

Ortega y Gasset, José [1934], 'The Mission of tbe Librarian' Transiated by /ames Lewis Ruy Carpenkr

Sheerin, W. [1991], 'Absolutism on Access and Confidentiality: Principled or Irresponsible?', American Libraries, 22(5), 440-442, 444.

Wiegand, Shirley A. [1996], 'Reality Bites: The Collision of Rhetoric, Rights, and Reality and the Library Bill of Rights.', Library Trends 45(1), 75-86

Wolkoff, K.N. [1996], 'The Problem of Holocaust Denial Literature in Libraries.', Library Trends 45(1), 87-96

Other Useful Readings

White, Herbert S., Ethical Dilemmas in Libraries: A Collection of Case Studies

Online Readings


The Topics



Ethical Theories and Ethical Codes: An Introduction

 



1: Introduction to Ethical Theory

 

Practical ethics. Fallibilism. Fact versus value. Subjective versus relative versus objective. Moral reasons. Utilitarianism, Duty based ethics, Rights, Contract theory.
Readings

 

2: Consequentialism

 

Act and Rule Utilitarianism
Readings

 

  • Spinello, Chapter 2.

3. Duty-based theories

 

Kant and Ross


 

  • Spinello, Chapter 2.

4: Rights

 

Social Contract. Rights. Rawls.


 

  • Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy: Rights [This reading may have too much intellectual depth for some or most of us. However, take what you can from it. Chances are you will learn much of value to you (and not just within the field of information ethics).]
  • Held, Virginia. [1987] 'Non-Contractual Society: A Feminist View', Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 13(1987), 111-137, in reading packet.

5: Ethical Principles and Codes

 

Their creation, function, and justification.
Readings

 

6: General Frameworks for Ethical Analysis

 

Resolving conflicts
Readings

 

  • Spinello, Chapter 2.


Information Technology and Ethics


7:Overview

 

Opportunities and Dangers:- Access, Censorship and Freedom of Expression, Civil Liberties, Encryption, Intellectual Property, Privacy, Social Responsibility, Surveillance
Readings

 

  • Crowe, L. and Anthes, S. [1988], 'The Academic Librarian and Information Technology: Ethical Issues', College and Research Libraries, 49(2), 123-130, in reading packet.


Freedom and Privacy: Information Access and Information Protection

 



8: General Theories of Freedom of Speech

 

Mill's arguments
Readings

 

9: The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights--Its Provisions and Its Interpretation.

 

How it bears on information. Text and amendments, especially the First, Fourth, Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Readings

 

10: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Expression, and Access to Information

 

Freedom of speech, freedom of expression, access to information and the welfare right to access
Readings

 

  • Sheerin, W. [1991], 'Absolutism on Access and Confidentiality: Principled or Irresponsible?', American Libraries, 22(5), 440-442, 444., in reading packet.

11: Censorship and Freedom to Read

 

Censorship. Freedom to read.
Readings

 

12: Children and other lesser agents, and a tentative framework for censorship

 

Paternalism. How a fallibilist might censor. Children and movies
Readings

13: Internet access, pornography, and filtering

 

Pornography. Librarians conditions of work. Adults and children. Public Libraries and schools.
Readings

14: Access: False or damaging views

 

What should be done about presumed false or damaging views?
Readings

 

  • Wolkoff, K.N. [1996], 'The Problem of Holocaust Denial Literature in Libraries.', Library Trends 45(1), 87-96, in reading packet.

15: The Right to Privacy--Philosophy, Legal Cases and Arguments

 

Why privacy in important: autonomy and the 'chilling' effect of the lack of privacy. The law.
Readings

 

Some of

 

16: Patron Privacy

 

A special case of privacy (close to home for librarians).

Privacy and personhood are not all or nothing items. Some privacy can be surrendered, in the interests of society, and yet still the person can retain pretty well full dignity.

In which case, the problem becomes where to draw the line. Are circulation records, or similar, especially sacrosanct? It seems that they will be fairly important, because, generally, they concern the dissemination of information, and that is important for many aspects of personhood and citizenry. But there may be circumstances where records should lose their privacy.
Readings

 

17: The Library Bill of Rights


Readings

 

18: The Impact of Information Technology (on freedom and privacy)

 

Email privacy

Workplace monitoring

Rebecca Schaeffer

Medical records


 


Equity and Property: Information (Re)Distribution and Information Ownership
 



19: Theories of Intellectual Property

 

Locke, Rawls and Nozick. How private property, subject to some duties or obligations, is to the benefit of all.

Intellectual property is in many ways just like other property. But in some important ways it is not. In particular, others can have or share intellectual property without the original owner ever losing it. However, in certain cases, sharing intellectual property removes the ability of the original owner to profit from it (but perhaps society as a whole profits from the sharing).
Readings

 

Some of

More peripheral

20: Patent, Copyright, Trade Secret, and Trademark

 

US law offers four styles of protection for intellectual property: patent, copyright, trade secret and trademark.

Some of these can be extended to some degree into the international arena (depending on the laws of the countries concerned and the international treaties).
Readings

 

Some of

  • Spinello p.149 and f., Legal Protection for Software

General

21: The Rights and Wrongs of I.P.

  
Readings
  

22: The Impact of Information Technology (on ownership and distibution)

 

Wider consideration of Intellectual Property (IP) and free or wide distribution

Piracy

Spam
Readings

 

Spinello

Some of

Some other issues including Professionalism and Professional Ethics

  
   

23: Stewardship and the Ethics of Reference Service

 

Stewardship concerns the duties and responsibilities of data-managers toward the data they look after; primarily: accuracy and the uses to which the information is put.  

Conflict between duties as a librarian and public good in not having 'dangerous' information disseminated. Responsibility for accuracy. Degree to which reference librarians can stay neutral in these contexts.
Readings

 

24: Pot Pourri of Issues and Examples

  
Readings
  

25: Review