[Libs-Or] Library Neutrality

[Rachel Humpert]

I will be away from the Library until Tuesday, September 6. If you need immediate assistance, please call Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney at 541-

On Jun 2, 2022, at 4:16 PM, Joel Parham via Libs-Or <libs-or at omls.oregon.gov> wrote:

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Here’s something that is related: https://www.ala.org/tools/ethics


On Jun 2, 2022, at 16:11, Matthew Baiocchi via Libs-Or <libs-or at omls.oregon.gov> wrote:
They're probably going to take away my MLIS for not knowing this.

I've been thinking a lot about library neutrality and what it means, and it occurred to me that I've never seen a really good definition of library neutrality. I can't find it "written down anywhere official" as a core tenet of our profession. I've looked all over ALA and OLA. I've looked at library professionals' presentations, statements, and blog posts. I checked Google Scholar and looked at articles I had access to. I haven't checked out books yet but that's because we don't have any in our library system.

Does library neutrality mean political neutrality? Ethical neutrality? Social neutrality? Is it a description of how we ensure intellectual freedom? Does it mean we don't let our own viewpoints cloud service to patrons? Some of these? All? None?

So, anyone have a good definition of library neutrality? Anyone know where this core tenet of our profession originates?

Thank you, as always, for listening. Happy Thursday, all!







Matthew Baiocchi
REFERENCE LIBRARIAN
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