Project Assignment Overview: Investigate the information policies and practices of an organization that collects, stores, and distributes information (e.g., school, library, business, social service, information service, government, academic unit or discipline, etc.). Perform an ethical evaluation of these policies and practices using ethical theories and normative principles. Propose any changes in practices or policies that may improve the ethical standing of the organization.
When I first moved here, I went to the public library and got a card. I didn't check anything out immediately because I believe in the RESERVES system (...really I just never know what I want unless I see it somewhere so I just place everything on hold unless I'm feeling really patient and then I'll look through things...it's the same reason I have a hard time shopping at Ross...I'm too impatient...). So I come home with my handy LC and start placing books on hold (or reserve, whatever you want to call it). Granted, some of these are STILL on hold and there's no chance I'll see them before August, but some of them came in. When I went to the tiny branch library near my house to pick up my selections, I was greeted by a not-so-nice surprise. My books (Confessions of a Shopaholic and Middlesex...maybe the Prince Caspian movie, too) were sitting on a shelf with a slip of paper sneaking out of it on display for the world to see. I was shocked...horrified...appalled. Don't get me wrong, I love that I can just go grab my stuff, check it out myself, and get the heck out of Dodge - but I also don't like the idea of the entire library knowing what I read. Other libraries manage to hide the materials...wrapped in paper like a present or placed in a bin like a file or - the most confidential - tucked away behind the desk away from the prying eyes and grubby hands of other library users.
They say that it isn't a problem...the book is still on hold for me...no one else can just grab it and check it out. But as a former Library Aide that did the checking out to the people that couldn't use self-check because the book was on hold for another person...the override password was my dear friend. One thing I learned long ago was not to argue with a customer...and I wasn't going to be the one to call them a liar and tell them they took the book from the HOLDs shelf. The library I worked at kept the books in file holder/bin things with little slips of paper with the last name, and initials - little kids liked to pull the pieces of paper out. Talk about creating more work for us.
The library here does offer a way around having your name displayed for all to see, I had to do some research to discover that option. I'm still not sure how it works, you see, a patron has to talk to the nice library employee at the desk to figure out how to make that work. I wonder how many patrons use that option? I also want to know why there wasn't any notice telling me that my holds were going to be exposed to the world?! A little warning would be nice.
I'm excited to find someone at my little branch to interview...answers would be nice.
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