[Web4lib] [web4lib] survey on library website third partyanalytics privacy concerns

Tue Aug 31 14:53:16 EDT 2010

Hmm. ALA standards as the new categorical imperative. Kant 2.0. Who says there are no second acts?

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of David -
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 2:39 PM
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] [web4lib] survey on library website third partyanalytics privacy concerns

Let me refine my statement.

I think that we should have ethical standards.  And by "we", I mean each of us 
as human beings.  We should do things because they are right, and refuse to do 
things that are wrong, regardless of the demands of the ALA or our employers.  
Now this is a statement that requires a lot of unpacking, but to summarize: the 
ethical standards of the ALA or our employers may reflect ethical behavior, but 
they do not determine them.

Now to the matter of persuasion: if I'm working at a public library and the city 
manager says "David, do this", it would be rhetorically meaningless to say "I 
can't do that -- it violates ALA standards."  I have no reason to expect him to 
be impressed that I can quote the obscure standards of an obscure organization 
that he cares nothing about.  This was my original point.  If you're trying to 
convince someone that a given action is ethical or unethical, don't assume that 
anyone except the ALA gives weight to the standards of the ALA.  I mean, I'm a 
librarian and I couldn't care less what the ALA says about anything.

Also: neither our bosses nor the ALA determine what is right and wrong, but our 
bosses and not the ALA determine what we're going to do.  And that's a 
completely reasonable demand on their part.  If the taxpayers pay us to do X, 
it'd be wrong to take their money and do Y because the ALA says so.

________________________________
From: Robert L.. Balliot <rballiot at oceanstatelibrarian.com>
To: tennantr at oclc.org; davidslistservs at yahoo.com; web4lib at webjunction.org
Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 12:16:36 PM
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] [web4lib] survey on library website third partyanalytics 
privacy concerns

I agree with both of you. If library schools do their job correctly, they will 
graduate people who have internalized professional ethics. But ALA has no 
authority beyond that. There is no penalty for failure to abide by professional 
ethics. ALA does not disbar or sanction based on ethics.

David is right that ALA does not sign the paychecks and many, many librarians 
have been faced with doing what they know is right professionally or doing what 
is politically expedient. So the easiest thing to do might just be to go along 
to get along. However, with each erosion of ethical standards the professional 
as a whole loses its credibility.

On the other hand, Roy's stance as an employee of OCLC that sells services to 
libraries is really not the same as someone who is on the front lines of library 
services.  It is pretty easy to commit to professional ethics when you are never 
challenged and your commitment to professional ethics helps to sell your 
services.  I know lots of hawks who are all for war, especially when they are 
not the ones who serve.

*************************************************
Robert L. Balliot
Skype: RBalliot
Bristol, Rhode Island
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm
*************************************************

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] 
On Behalf Of Roy Tennant
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 10:46 AM
To: David -; web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] [web4lib] survey on library website third partyanalytics 
privacy concerns

On 8/30/10 8/30/10  6:34 AM, "David -" <davidslistservs at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Leaving aside the immediate issue of privacy, who cares what the ALA's code of
> ethics or bill of rights says about anything?...
> 
> Sure, the ALA occasionally has good ideas.  But it doesn't sign our paychecks
> or 
> fund our libraries.  Our governing bodies do, and theirs are the only opinions
> that matter.

I'm sorry to hear you feel that way. I a librarian first, and an employee
second. I am in this profession because I believe in its values and ethics,
and I have pledged to uphold them. Not with my hand on a bible, but with
ethical conduct day in and day out. If I were to give that up to keep my
job, then I would violate not just the professional code of ethics, but my
own. I'd prefer to find another job.
Roy

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