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The road not taken.
1Countway Library of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Bulletin of the Medical Library Association
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Health sciences librarianship faces risks to core values like privacy and intellectual property. Librarians must make conscious choices to uphold these essential professional beliefs in the modern information economy.
Area of Science:
- Health Sciences Librarianship
- Information Science
- Medical History
Background:
- The Janet Doe Lecture, established in 1966, honors emerita librarian Janet Doe.
- The lecture series explores the history and philosophy of health sciences librarianship.
- This lecture specifically addresses foundational professional values.
Discussion:
- Identifies three core values at risk: privacy, intellectual property rights, and access to quality information.
- Emphasizes the critical role of individual choices in maintaining the profession's value system.
- Utilizes Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" as a metaphor for navigating the information economy.
Key Insights:
- Fundamental values in health sciences librarianship are under threat.
- Everyday decisions by professionals are crucial for preserving professional ethics.
- The information economy presents unique challenges to traditional librarianship values.
Outlook:
- A call to action for librarians to actively defend professional values.
- Encourages critical reflection on the choices impacting the future of health sciences librarianship.
- Highlights the enduring relevance of ethical considerations in the evolving information landscape.