So my first issue with this week's blog is that I don't think I like blogging. I thought I would, but I get all freaked out and don't know what to say. I'm probably over thinking this totally. I feel as if I'm in an academic setting, so I must write an essay. Since I've never written a blog before that's what I sit down to write. But when I read everyone elses blogs, that is not what they are. They are not essays. Again, totally over thinking. I know.
Secondly, I need to stop reading everyone's blogs because I break out in hives and go into a cold sweat. Everyone sounds so intelligent and well versed in the world of librarianship. I'm thinking "seriously! This is my job competition! I'm screwed!" So overall, well done all! I enjoy reading what everyone writes much more than I do writing it myself.
Finally, the real reason for my blog this week. ACCESS. I know there's been like 10 blogs about it this week, but it's a very intriguing topic. The whole concept of the ethical issues with the legal issues and the binding ALA issues. It's a topic that has dragged me under as well. I look at it from the point of view of my current job (which sucks, just in case anyone is wondering). Not everyone has access to the same documents. We deal with a lot of government jobs, so I can understand those. But for every day information, most of us peons do not have access to simple Gerber files (if you really want to know what that is, I'll explain in person, but trust me, it's not that big of a deal). I mean, I agree that we should not be able to change the original, but giving us access to a "read only" file and allowing us to copy and alter a copy. Really? What does that hurt?
And what does this have to do with libraries? Now I get to it.....
So I think of the conversation with the person asking about information on how to make a bomb. I totally agree that the person has the right to the "read only" files on that information. They have the right to copy (legally) and expand and alter on (again, legally) that "read only" file to their little hearts content. But when a person takes that information and makes the bomb that blows up the subway, then I have problems. If a person came into my library and I gave him "read only" access to files on bomb making and then he killed hundreds of people, I don't think I could handle that. Sooo....do you just deny people the right to information because you as a person couldn't deal with the repercussions? I'm not saying that either.
I believe that we as librarians have the right to know when people who are using "questionable" information are intending to do wrong. Now, I'm not saying that people need to tell us exactly what their intentions are with the information we're giving them (wait for the explanation before you judge please). And I believe that we can get to this information by continuing to help the patron. I mean, if someone is researching bomb's and how to make them, can't I offer them information on how to defuse bombs and maybe pictures on what bombs have actually done to women and children and families? If I really supply them with all the information and open their eyes to what they would be doing to someone and their family, maybe that would stop them from going out and using the "read only" files to horrible ends. I mean, that's the role we play as librarians. Making sure people have the complete picture, the complete story.
We don't have a right to censor what people want. If they want information on how to make a bomb, on suicide, on sex, we don't have a right to tell them "no, I don't think that's appropriate." I do believe that by being a good librarian, however, we can figure out whether or not people mean to do harm with the information we're giving them. And I also believe that if they are going to do harm, we need to step out of our roles as librarians and deal with the human side of the situation. If I believe one hundred percent that a person is going to make a bomb with the information I have given him and try to blow up a school, I will alert at least my manager so they can deal with the situation appropriately. If I didn't at least do that or if I was told that I couldn't at least do that, then I would have some major moral dillemas within the librarian profession.
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