Listening to the podcast this week got me thinking about technology and privacy. Privacy in libraries has been a big issue lately with the Patriot Act and all, along with general worries of identity theft, social networking sites, etc. Furthermore, some users won’t get a library card, or even a computer use card on the argument that the information will be used to track them or their borrowing habits.
While that is unfortunate, since that is probably not the case, as the podcast said, with these “ambient technologies” become widely used in the commercial sector, I could see it being a challenge for libraries to catch up with that market while still upholding the ethical values set in place by the field. For instance, how great would it be for a next-generation catalog to offer suggestions in the collection based (Amazon style) on what you have borrowed or browsed? However, this would require keeping some sort of record, even if it were only accessible to that user.
That is only one example, but I think as more people who have never used a library and are finding that they have to for one reason or another (economy), more concerns about privacy will arise.
About Me
- S. Davidson
- Hello, I am a library science student who loves to learn. I also enjoy watching movies and listening to music.
2 comments:
I wonder if Amazon and similar sites protect their use records in the way that a library does. It seems unlikely. If the records are there and law enforcement approaches them with a warrent they probably hand it all over without batting an eye (if it even takes a warrent).
It's rapidly becoming a societal norm to expect that if your putting things out into the ether then they are potentially fair game. Why is it that people don't feel the need to protect their privacy as fiercely (sp?) as their friendly local librarian probably would? Should libraries make more of an effort teach people about their right to privacy and the lengths that libraries go to in order to protect it for them?
All the more important for librarians to create policies and educate others about their significance. In a highly technological society, we play a critical role.
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