Instructor: Gale Eaton
E-mail: WebCT e-mail preferred for course communications; geaton@mail.uri.edu for non-course matters or in a pinch; will normally answer e-mail in both venues at least once a day, M-F, but life happens
Phone number: 874-4651
Office hours: Rodman, Office 3, W 3:00 – 5:00; other times and places by appointment

Course description: Examines the history, socially constructed norms, and legal context framing issues in LIS (e.g., questions of privacy, censorship, and the disposition of gifts); applies principles of ethical reasoning to decisions.

Course dates: Thursday, September 8, 2005 through Thursday, December 8, 2005
Location: Internet course; face-to-face meetings at Providence CCE on September 8, October 20, and December 8, 2005, 3:30 – 6:15 p.m.

Texts:

·        Tavani, Herman T. (2004). Ethics and technology: Ethical issues in an age of information and communication technology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-24966-1 (paper)

·        American Library Association, Office for Intellectual Freedom. (2002). Intellectual freedom manual. 6th ed. Chicago: ALA. ISBN 0-8389-3519-2 (paper)

Required readings: Your instructor's "lecture" notes will be posted under "Weekly Content," and will include questions to start the weekly discussions, as well as occasional exercises (the moral equivalent of breakout groups in class). Other assigned readings for each week are listed in the course calendar. 

Elective readings: Students will also be expected to read independently in support of weekly discussions and individual assignments. A list of books, journal articles, and online resources is provided as a jumping-off point for your elective reading; you are not expected to read everything on the ten-page list, and you will not be limited to items on the list. (In fact, if you find good stuff that's not already on the list, please share it.)  

Course goals:

This course addresses several GSLIS educational outcomes, especially those that state a graduate of GSLIS should:

2.   Be guided by a set of professional ethics, based on a knowledge and understanding of the professional codes of organizations such as the American Library Association, the Special Libraries Association, the Medical Library Association, and the American Society for Information Science and Technology

3.   Understand issues, values and laws relating to intellectual freedom, intellectual property rights, equitable access to information, confidentiality, and privacy rights

7.   Exhibit interpersonal skills and respect in the treatment of colleagues and users

8.   Communicate effectively using appropriate media, including the written, oral, graphic, and nonverbal

14. Demonstrate problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision making skills

We will be concerned with ethical issues in all types of libraries (including K-12, college & university, public, and special) and information services. Students may choose assignment topics in their own areas of interest. Therefore, this course also supports Rhode Island Beginning Teacher Standard 11: “Teachers [or school library media specialists] maintain professional standards guided by legal and ethical principles.”  

Course objectives and evaluation: