By: Amy Frazier, Haley Songchild, and Courtney Terry.

Wolverines Ethics Group

Our Case Study

Trenton Public Library hires businesswoman

for library director

Step 1: Get the Facts StraightO The new director was a businesswoman, not a librarianO Professional librarians were replaced with assistant

directors as head of each departmentO 3 full-time librarians were laid off and 4 were reduced

to 19-hours-per-week (no benefits)O The director would not be included in weekend

reference rotationsO The library would close on Saturdays by 2pm and

would not be open on SundaysO All new releases and popular entertainment videos

would cost $1.00 to check out, instead of for freeO The library board now had no librarians participating in

meetings

Step 2: Identify the Moral Dilemma

In today’s world, budget cuts are important for libraries to exist; however, the new business director doesn’t understand the library’s core value is intellectual freedom for everyone, not a select few. If she eliminates all professional librarians, the library will become a corporation, merely looking to clean out our patrons’ wallets. In the end, we have to consider what’s best for the library's future: the operation of the library itself, or the librarians within it?

Step 3: Evaluate the moral dilemma using the principles of information

ethics to decide which side has more ethical support.

Professional librarians’ point of view

Director’s Point of View

O The library is built on intellectual freedom, not information for a price.

O Professionals understand the library and can best adapt to survive in the future.

O Class divide widens when the have-nots can no longer access new technology because of cost and availability of library hours.

O Patrons rely on librarians’ expert advice. They can stay at home for semi-professional assistance.

O Professional librarians require a higher salary.

O Charging for videos brings in more money.

O Closing on Sundays and early on Saturdays requires less money to operate.

O Corporate models have proven to be successful and efficient in other businesses.

Step 4: Test your solution: Will it stand up to public scrutiny?

O Each library is different and may require different oversight.

O We need to balance professionals and assistants in the library workplace.

O We need to balance the budget while sustaining freedom of information for the public.

O Administrators need input from the staff, the public, as well as the board, which should include librarians. New policies can’t be initiated in public libraries without the involvement of these groups.

PhotographsFirst image- http://

www.grizzlycentral.com/forum/general-discussion/12149-funny-thing-shoot-during-deer-season.html

Second image-http://www.trinitybiztax.com/aboutus.html

Third image-http://www.valcomnews.com/?p=1422

Fourth image-http://www.thepilot.com/news/2011/apr/22/plans-southern-pines-library-tied-long-range-visio/

All internet sites accessed September 28, 2011.