5 discussions due in 48 hours

EDU499Week4BALSEthicalScenario.pdf

BALS

For some time, a local militia group has been meeting in one of the library meeting rooms each Tuesday

evening. There have been complaints from patrons about inflammatory messages on their t-shirts

(examples: Anarchy rules! & Women belong in the home). When you told the militia group about these

complaints, they voluntarily moved their meeting time to the hour before closing so they are the only

patrons using the library.

Members of the militia group have begun checking out and reading library materials. They are using the

library computers before and during their meetings over the last month. Last night you noticed papers

left behind in the printer. As you collected these, you realized they seemed to be instructions on how to

create explosive devices. As you examined them more closely, a militia member came to collect them

and you handed them over.

Not sure what to do, you were still thinking this over when two Homeland Security officers appeared at

the library the next day. The officers wanted access to all computers used by members of the militia so

they could explore the website visitation history, and they also wanted to know if any of the militia

group had checked out library materials, or viewed any on the premises. If they had, Homeland Security

wanted a copy of the library records, and the titles of any materials used in the library.

• What are you going to do?

• Will you help Homeland Security and turn over the library records of the militia group

members?

• Will you allow them to search each computer, and tell them about materials you noticed the

group examining?

• What other options might you have?

Refer to the Library Bill of Rights http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill or The ALA Code

of Ethics

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/proethics/codeofethics/Code%20of

%20Ethics%20of%20the%20American%20Library%20Association.pdf