Last revised May 12, 2008.
 
Course Outline for IRLS 520, Section 031: Ethics for Library and Information Professionals

Semester:  Sumer 2008
Instructor:  Kay Mathiesen

The homework assignments are due the Friday prior to the first and second weeks of class.

Assignments should be submitted via the appropriate d2l drop box. Please also bring hard copies of your work to class.

Date/Topic Readings  Assignments
Weekend 1 (5/17 and 5/18) 
Introduction,
The Mission of the Information, Professional Ethics, Ethical Theories,
Diversity in Ethics
  • Ortega y Gasset
  • Wengert
  • Codes of Ethics 
  • Spinello
  • Woodward (both articles) 
  • Noddings
  • Craig
  • Brant
  • Wilburn
 Due to d2l drop-box by Midnight 5/16.
  1. Participate in The Morality Play. Print out and bring your results to class. 
  2. Write a PRE for the Gassett, Wengert, Noddings, Craig, and Brant articles. 
  3. Describe a concrete ethical decision that information professional might have to make. Then,
    • Explain how a utilitarian would go about deciding this case.  
    • Explain how Kant would go about deciding this case.
    • Explain how Ross would go about deciding this case. 
    • Explain how a rights theorist would go about deciding this case. 
    (Be sure to refer to the specifics of the case in your answers.)
May 20   Project proposal due in d2l dropbox by Midnight.
Weekend 2 (5/24 and 5/25) 
Intellectual Freedom,
Access to Information,
Privacy,
Intellectual Property and Copyright
  • Mill 
  • Doyle
  • Wolkoff
  • Nesta/Blanke
  • Baldwin
  • Sheerin 
  • Garoogian
  • Copyright
    • Read Stanford's Copyright and Fair Use Overview: "Copyright FAQ's" A-D, "Fair Use" A-C, and "Public Domain" A-B
    • Browse Harper
  • Hettinger
  • Vaidhyanathan

Due to d2l drop-box by Midnight 5/23.

1.Write a PRE for each of the readings (except those on copyright).

2. Copyright assignment: Give an example of a use that a library patron would wish to do that would count as "fair use," explain why it is fair use. Give an example of a use that a library patron would wish to do that would not count as "fair use." (Note, patrons can include teachers or professors in an educational setting.)

May 26-28
Midterm Exam on Ethical Theories
  • Midterm Exam posted at 8 a.m. on May 26th; due to d2l dropbox by midnight on May 28th.
    • Weekend 3 (5/31 and 6/1)
    Student Presentations
    • Individual Project Due in Dropbox by Midnight June 2nd.