Statement of Competency
Introduction
Information professionals have long served as stewards for the democratization of information, ensuring that knowledge is accessible to all individuals regardless of background or personal beliefs. They uphold the values of intellectual freedom, which include the right to seek, receive, and share information without restriction, and they safeguard the information of the past, present, and future. Libraries and other information institutions act as vital social and cultural repositories, preserving history while supporting lifelong learning and informed citizenship. In this role, librarians, archivists, and other information professionals serve not only as custodians of knowledge but also as defenders of democracy and equity in society.
Currently, the ethical standards of librarianship and other information professions are under political scrutiny and attack. American political administrations have attempted to control the access and availability of information through censorship, restrictive funding, and suppression/elimination of publicly available knowledge and resources. Such actions threaten the core beliefs of information professionals to provide equitable access to information, defend intellectual freedom, and protect the information entrusted to them.
The American Library Association (ALA) provides guidance through three foundational documents: the Library Bill of Rights, the ALA Code of Ethics, and The Freedom to Read Statement. The ALA Code of Ethics offers broad statements which serve to guide ethical decision-making (American Library Association, 2021). Adopted in 1939, it has been amended over time and reflects our changing ideas and informational landscapes/spaces. While it is non-enforceable by law, this code serves as a personal and professional ethos for all information professionals.
The Library Bill of Rights implements these ethical ideals within the institutional context. It asserts that libraries are community spaces for information, ideas, and free expression, regardless of the space’s professional classification (American Library Association, 2019). The Freedom to Read Statement emphasizes free speech and individual autonomy in seeking information, reinforcing the ideals of the First Amendment and the belief that access to knowledge is central to a free society (American Library Association, 2004). Together, these documents provide a framework for ethical and equitable information practice.
Practical Implications
Recent political actions by both Trump administrations have threatened these ideals. Since the 2016 presidential election, libraries, museums, and information professionals have faced censorship, funding cuts, and institutional dismantlement. The firing of Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden in May 2025 (Peet, 2025) represents a threat to leadership and professional security. Similarly, efforts to dismantle the Institute of Library and Museum Services in March 2025 (Trump, 2025) reflect attempts to restrict public access to information. These attacks are ongoing, unrelenting, and highlight the need for information professionals to remain vigilant and committed to ethical practices and standards. This can be done by advocating for intellectual freedom, supporting equitable access (especially across the developing digital divide), and defending our shared, hallowed institutions. In this environment, librarians and other information professionals must stay informed and connected so as to continue to advocate for these ideals. In our understanding that the ALA documents have been amended, it’s important to realize that these are living documents that will not only see change, but must also be in need of change as society evolves (Garner, 2022).
Evidence
This piece of evidence is proof of knowledge gained through taking the CITI Program's Social and Behavioral Research training course for INFO 285: Applied Research Methods (Action Research). For this assignment, I registered for an account through citiprogram.org and went through the assigned modules and then took a final test to receive an official certificate of completion. I learned in this program that there are very strict regulations and ethical standards involved with the use of human subjects in research. I came to the assignment with basic knowledge of how to ethically include human subjects in research (anonymization, for example), but this course specified not only the standards, but how Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) operate and regulate such standards. This assignment illustrated real-world application of ethical mores as opposed to textual discussion of such ideals.
This assignment will help me as an information professional by allowing me to closely examine and approach research work in an ethical manner. Certifications require refreshers, as does any continuing education of one's profession. The CITI course is a measured way of demonstrating a commitment to the shared ethical values of research, and I intend to acquire similar credentials in other avenues of librarianship. Ethical standards change with time, therefore an information professional must remain steadfast in their knowledge of and adaption to such changes.
INFO 285: Ethics Discussion Post
This item of evidence was completed in the Spring of 2025 for my Applied Research Methods class with Dr. Renee Jefferson. She supplied us with an article and a prompt to which we needed to respond. I read an article on the Stanford Prison Experiment of 1971 and was instructed to write a Discussion Post addressing the following questions:
Regarding the Stanford Prisoners’ Experiment (1971)
Forty years ago, could payment of $15 per day for 1-2 weeks to a college student seem "coercive?" Would it be considered so today? If not, what amount would be coercive? What factors need to be considered before making that determination?
Would a study that "subjects student volunteers to such extreme emotional trauma" ever be approved today? What safeguards are in place to prevent such harmful situations?
Are there rules about using students or employees in clinical trials at your Institution? Is this acceptable under any circumstances?
What are the rules of informed consent - would this statement be allowed: "You can't quit-you agreed to be here for the full experiment."
Completing this assignment made me revisit a time where ethical considerations regarding human research were different. Using past research to evaluate current ethical standards is valuable in that it shows that they evolve and change. It’s helpful insofar as knowing better begets doing better. We have to confront the past to build a better future. This aligns with Garnar’s (2022) notion that ethical standards and methods are ever-changing. I plan to commit to a similar vein of continual ethical assessment in my career as an information professional.
INFO 204: Annotated Bibliography on Ethics
This Annotated Bibliography on Ethics was an assignment written for INFO 204: Information Professions taken Fall of 2023 with Dr. Sean Gaffney. We were to find an article that discussed ethics within an Information Profession. I found an article about teaching information ethics through digital humanities and instructional design, and through the exercise of writing an annotated bibliography, I was able to practice an activity that researchers, and scholars alike use to concisely summarize and evaluate source material.
The article, itself, as source material illustrated how ethics can be taught in higher education. Boyles developed a way to inventively weave together current events, ethical considerations, and digital humanities, all while keeping students engaged and self-directed.
This is important as I move forward as both a parent and an information professional. The current digital landscape of today’s youth has the capacity to be both inspiring and terrifying. Teaching others how to responsibly, ethically, and wisely use and interpret information in the media is critical for a healthy society.
Conclusion
Foundationally speaking, ethics are at the center of everything information professionals do. They deeply value their professional ethos. Providing equitable service and access to information sources which represent all views means one must constantly evaluate personal, professional, and structural biases to ensure that their shared values represent the best knowledge of the time. I plan on making use of professional organizations such as the ALA and SLA, as I plan on working in digital assets and curation. These will connect me with current resources which will guide me through the ethical waters.
References
American Library Association. (2019, January 29). Library Bill of Rights. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill
American Library Association. (2021, June 29). ALA Code of Ethics. https://www.ala.org/tools/ethics
American Library Association; Association of American Publishers. (2004, June 30). The Freedom to Read Statement. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement
Garnar, M. L. (2022). Information ethics. In S. Hirsh (Ed.), Information services today: An introduction (3rd ed., pp. 435–452). Rowman & Littlefield.
Peet, L. (2025, May 12). Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden Is Fired. Library Journal. https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/librarian-of-congress-carla-hayden-fired
Trump, D. J. (2025, March 14). Continuing the reduction of the federal bureaucracy. The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/continuing-the-reduction-of-the-federal-bureaucracy/