Selection not Censorship: Collection Development in a Global Digital Age.

Selection not Censorship:

Collection Development

in a Global Digital Age

Libraries in the Digital Age

Martha M. Smith

LIDA, 2001

Selection not Censorship:

Implications for Today

Martha M. Smith, Ph. D.

Copyright 5/2001

Use with acknowledgement.

In Memory of

Lester Asheim

1914-1997

The Collection as the Key

The Librarian as the

Active Selector

Selection not Censorship

The Asheim Principle:Selection: The Selector considers

reasons to keep the item.Censorship: The Censor considers

reasons to reject or remove the item.

Hot Question???

Money and Selection/Censorship?– How does funding influence the selection

process?– Should funding be discussed in Collection

Development policies?– Is lack of funding a kind of censorship?

What is a collection?

Print and/or electronic Is Access enough? Or must we

always own?Is Virtual/Digital good

enough? For whom?

What is a collection? (cont.)

Reflects the judgment and the vision of the librarian(s)

Focused on the users/the audience– Local

– The External Community: How far? Who pays?

The Librarian Is the Collection!

How is the librarian part of the collection?–The greatest resource

–The prime interpreter

Theft and Loss as Censorship

The Censor as active thiefThe Censor as passive thiefTheft and Loss as signals to collect

more in an area?– Drugs– Sex– Abuse, Suicide, Gender Identity

The Collection and the Community

How to define the community?– Local (Cultures and Languages)

– Network Partners

The Internet as a Collection

Potential to share globally Dominance of English, good

and bad Need to preserve local languages and

traditions Focus on education, employment, and

self-determination Foster cultural appreciation

The Librarian as Publisher on the Web

The Library Web page as a key element in the collection– Finding Aid

– Reference Resource

– Link to human help 24/7

– Publicity and Promotion

– Community Builder/Gateway

Foundation for Selection in the Digital Age

Community Needs– How far?– How fast?

Building the Universal Library– Education, Pleasure, and Preservation– Provide access to unique

local materials while still protecting them

Foundation for Selection in the Digital Age (cont.)

External partnerships and co-operative agreements– Web rings– Content portals– Collection development agreements– Union cataloging agreements– Interlibrary Loan and other resource

sharing

Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Ideals for Selection

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Affirming

Literacy Autonomy/self-determination Free exchange of ideas and opinions Political participation Meaningful work Family life Creative pursuits: literature, art,

music, dance, etc.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights--Article 19

Foundation for Collection Development Article 19:

– Free flow of ideas

– Unrestricted access to resources

– Free expressions of opinions and ideas

Universal Declaration of Human Rights--Article 19

Foundation for Collection Development Article 19:

– Eliminating boundaries geographic economic political

Hot Question Should the UDHR be included in Collection

Development Policy statements? Along with:

– Freedom to Read Statement– Library Bill of Rights– ALA Code of Ethics and other

statements of mission and goals

Collections and the UDHR

Article 19. Access to information assumes collections that are carefully selected, organized, and publicized for maximum use.

Articles 3 and 12. Privacy and confidentiality Articles 22, 26, 27. Support for work and

family life requires careful evaluation of resources

The Role of Bricks and Mortar

Buildings for People Ownership and Community Memory The Physical Place of Learning

Principles of Selection

Quality Authority Stability and Availability Appropriateness (Good Fit) Expected life usefulness What needs are met?Temporary? Mid-

term? Long-term? Permanent?

Tensions from Potential Censors

Local Traditions vs. Universal Human Rights

Governmental Sovereignty vs. Global Protections s

Commercial Interests vs. Human Rights– Short term compromises– Long term compromises

Is Censorship Always Wrong?

Is censorship ever justified? Necessary? Special Concerns and Threats

– Sex Gender identity/Sexual orientation issues Access to contraception and other

reproductive rights– Politics

Hate Speech

Is Censorship Always Wrong? (cont.)

– Political (cont.) Weapons and Violence Political Opposition

– Religions Challenges to traditional religions Slander/Blasphemy Questioning doctrine Questioning social policy

– Genital mutilation– Sexual and gender issues

Threats to Excellent Selection

Time Unclear role understanding Low expectations Lack of authority Political struggles among stakeholders Community pressures

Overcoming Threats

Be prepared Know your setting/people Update CD policies Prepare everyone: your governing

agency/board; all staff members Keep a sense of proportion and

maintain a sense of humor Find support inside and outside

Global Service through Selection

Enhancing the world’s knowledge resources Building partnerships of co-operation Connecting collections internationally Aiding literacy Preserving the world’s memory

Contact Information:

Martha M. Smith

[email protected]

Contact:

Martha M. Smith, Ph. D. The Palmer School of Library and Information

Science, Long Island University Brookville, NY, 11548

[email protected]://www.infoethics.org ICIE: http://www.infoethics.net

Bb Courses on the Web

Questioning Technology http://www.blackboard.com/courses/LIS901A (Archive site. See for other Pp presentations.) Information Ethics http://www.blackboard.com/courses/lis901K

Internet for Information Professionals http://www.blackboard.com/courses/LIS628