Instructional Support

"Information literacy and its effect on the digital divide is an aspect of information ethics that can be influenced and improved by those in the library profession. According to Elrod and Smith (2005) 'information ethics provides a framework for critical reflection on the creation, control, and use of information' (pg. 1004). The five guidelines that help to create this framework are access, ownership, privacy, security, and community (Elrod and Smith, 2005, 1006). ...Finally the librarian should be a supporter. It is frustrating to learn a new skill and the librarian should be available to ensure that the newly learned information is used effectively and that they continue to exercise and improve their skills. If the librarian acts as an educator and supporter in the community then more people will have effective access to new information available, and this (will) minimize the digital divide."

When librarians assume the responsibilities of information specialists, they acknowledge a professional obligation to instruct all users in thinking critically about information and using evaluation criteria for determining whether or not information is reliable, valid, and usable.

"According to ALA, “All information resources that are provided directly or indirectly by the library, regardless of technology, format, or methods of delivery, should be readily, equally, and equitably accessible to all library users” (ALA Core Values, para. 5)."

Ethical codes clearly define professional standards related to providing information resources for all users. However, information literacy must extend beyond provision to accessibility defined by the ability to read and comprehend the information provided. Since a large percentage of available inforamtion requires reading, librarians must become advocates for reading comprehension instruction. Without the ability to read and interpret information, users lack the ability to think critically about the information they find. If equal access is the goal, librarians must promote reading and provide opportunities for critical thinking to all users and potential users. In order to be truly egalitarian, librarians must invite both existing and potential users to participate in the search for useful information.

In the article, "Information Technology and Technologies of the Self," Capurro (1996) declares, "it is through institutions as well as through moral and legal codes that we can ensure the right to access and to work for more equitable distribution in order to bridge the information gap between the ‘information poor’ and the ‘information rich’" (Information Technology as an Ethical Challenge section, para. 3).

Ethical codes in the library profession must not only address the digital divide and how discrepancies in provision and access can be successfully bridged. Ethical codes for information professionals must address how a range of literacy services can be successfully provided to those who can read and those who struggle with reading comprehension. Providing access to the growing numbers of struggling readers is a huge, yet infrequently considered issue.


References

American Library Association. (2004, June 29). Core Values Statement. Retrieved February 26, 2006, from ALA’s Core Value Statement.

Capurro, R. (1996). Information Technology and Technologies of the Self. Journal of Information Ethics, 5(2), 19-28. Also available at Information Technology and Technologies of the Self.

Elrod, E. M., & Smith, M. M. (2005). Information Ethics. In Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics (Vol. 2, pp. 1004-1011). Detroit: Macmillan Reference.