Interview Reflection

This week, I interviewed a  library-media specialist at one of the public high schools in our community. She has been in this position for over 10 years and is in charge of collection development, circulation, programming, budgeting, overseeing the AV room, and managing support staff and student volunteers. I chose to interview her because I wanted to gain some insight as to what ethical problems she faces working in a 21st century learning environment with digital natives. 

I really enjoyed this interview process and learned a lot. I do very well working with and correcting students if I see an issue with the way they are using information. However, providing the same correction to teachers is much more intimidating to me. My interviewee provided me with some tips for how to help teachers when they are providing their students with instruction that does not comply with copyright law.

From the Interview:

Adams: Have you ever witnessed a teacher using information unethically or providing instruction to students that causes them to use information incorrectly in the library? If so, how did you handle that situation?

Interviewee: Unfortunately, this has happened more than once. With students, it is easy. I feel completely comfortable addressing their issue even with the teacher present. When a teacher brings his/her class into the library, I have set the expectations that I am the expert, so correcting inappropriate use of information is natural and expected. However, if a teacher is providing a student with false information, it is much harder to correct him/her on the spot. I think that it is important to allow the teacher to save face in these situations. Students need to have a high level of respect for their teachers and I do not want to be a reason for them to lose that respect. Information ethics, although a part of his/her job, is not his/her specialty. It is a complicated subject, and if you do not deal with it on a daily basis, it is easy to get confused. Normally, I will just pull the teacher aside and explain the issue to him/her. Most of the time, the teacher is very appreciative and immediately addresses the issue with the student without me even having to get involved. One a rare occasion, a teacher is not receptive and I have to follow up with the student myself. What happens outside of the library is hard for me to control, but I can make sure that the information provided within my walls is correct.

Conclusion
This is just one example of the valuable information and tips my interviewee provided me with during our appointment. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to spend time learning from her on this occasion. She is very wise and has had a lot of experiences that I appreciate her sharing with me. I will most definitely be contacting her for advice when ethical dilemmas occur in my library in the future.