Title of the Article: Privacy in the Digital environment—issues for libraries
Author: Michael Gorman
Publisher: IFLA
URL: http://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla67/papers/145-083e.pdf
ABSTRACT
Technology has brought both advancements and some serious issues to ponder on like privacy. It is said to be barely achievable in our technology laden age where almost everything is accessible via the internet. Though the internet's availability does not automatically mean exploitation and unethical usage, there could still be users well-endowed with the talent of using technology to do so despite due legislation and regulation. Technology has become a solution and at the same time a problem, in various aspects. This challenges the role of information professionals, most especially in the public library setup: to supply free access to the internet, and include privacy policies and tools for guidance in using that access. Though librarians themselves access information and data like user and circulation statistics, these are done with good intentions. Internationally recognized principles and technology with matching policies built around your information center's clientele would do well with proper maintenance and regulation.
What I learned
"You already have zero privacy -- get over it!" This is William Miller, quoting the Chairman of Sun Microsystems in Library Issues: briefings for faculty and administrators. People may not agree. I, personally, believe in privacy because I do have some thoughts that remain in the portals of my brain. However, one could only believe this for now, until new technology that can track and monitor thoughts comes out. It can be a bit of a stretch but with new developments almost everyday and every hour, the possibilities of making internet and technology work together to make various things happen are endless; and privacy is just a fraction of the issue. There is the legal right which warrants public access to relevant information; censorship, that regulates access under considerable relative parameters; and, the vast internet itself which has been rendered a little too responsive to our daily needs. Librarians themselves use private information like user information and circulation records in users needs analyses. Though this is aimed at library service improvements, their access poses some feelings of threat on the involved parties who perhaps want to conceal their usage of materials with "sexual content, etc. -- and extend to, for example, materials on diseases, English professors borrowing Danielle Steele books, “happily married” people borrowing books on divorce, and musical snobs borrowing hip-hop records..." (Gorman, 2001). If both privacy and maximized usage is the aim of an institution or a community in need of information, technology can either satisfy or hinder their goal.
Proper usage of the internet, information and the technologies that are bound to them is something information professionals can perhaps improve and instill to information users. User education and instruction with properly designed privacy policies still remain appropriate solutions. With the emergence of various electronic sources and the usability of such in various media and formats, regulation of access can be a venue where modern information scientists can put their expertise to good use. While drawing the line between private and public information has been a tiresome pursuit, so is the question of purpose in the ethical sense. This highlights and challenges the role of librarians, especially in the public library where information is freely given to the public. Librarians should instill in themselves a sense of urgency against information security especially when user information. New technologies like "self-check" devices can help librarians secure library users of the privacy in a library. A visible privacy policy can also make the users comfortable in their information search.
Reflection:
The need and desire for privacy comes naturally to the society. This has sprung from the possibilities of threat posed by the fast-changing and developing technology. I personally have no issue against total access to information (in a general sense). The only purpose of usage a librarian can know of is the purpose a library user discloses. It remains the purpose the librarian knows of whether the library user changes it along the way or not. To judge whether information will be used ethically or not may need a higher level of experience and vigilance. Perhaps the question of which is the best approach is irrelevant as of the moment. An effective approach however should be considered. New technologies pile up like bills and adapting to the haste may take a lot of resources; thinking of a specific best approach alone can take ages. Starting with a privacy policy and teaching the users how to use information is a big effort. Perhaps new technologies can be used to further computer and internet privacy. What is important is the users know of these measures that keep them secure. This level of security will enable them to be confident in using information and taking care of the information they use though a carefully guided access.
References
Articles
Gorman, Michael. (2001). Privacy in the Digital environment—issues for libraries. Retrieved June 27, 2012, from http://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla67/papers/145-083e.pdf
Mason, O. R., Mason, F. M., & Culnan M. J. (1993). Ethics of information management. Retrieved June 28, 2012, from http://www2.hawaii.edu/~donnab/lis610/mason_et_al_only_1995.pdf
Milojicic, Dejan. (January, 2000). Internet Technology. IEEE Concurrency, 8 (1), 70-81. Retrieved June 27, 212, from http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Dejan_Milojicic/Internet.pdf
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