Ethical considerations regarding library nonprofessionals: competing perspectives and values

Library Trends, Wntr, 1998 by Thomas J. Froehlich

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Who decides on the designation of "professional" and how is the designation made? Recognition can be internal or external, internal if it is self-recognized and external if it is recognized by others--e.g., society, the organization, professional associations. Internal recognition, while it should not be ignored, is not adequate for, while it may contribute to one's attitude, it may be a mistaken internal judgment. Many nonprofessionals may have an inflated view of the quality of their work or the level of competence required for many library tasks. Of external recognition, the most important is that of the organization's managers, for it is through them that the most obvious benefits--status and compensation--are most immediately and directly conferred, but respect from others in the organization, whether other staff or patrons, and from a professional association, is also important. The "how" of the designation is usually through the job description and corresponding compensation.

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It would seem that we need to use other methods to define the professional status of an employee or perhaps to withdraw professional status as well. As noted earlier, in some countries there are licensing procedures or extensive nomination procedures for membership in professional societies, and these may well be attempts by which member professionals evaluate the fitness of a candidate's disposition, training, and qualifications. Unfortunately, it is not clear that in all countries such criteria are honestly and uniformly applied or that admission into or dismissal from a professional society are adequate techniques. Yet, whether alternative methods come into reality is a serious problem. The issue is not just semantic but ethical as well. Consider two long-standing ethical principles: that each human being deserves respect (including an appropriate recognition of their work) and that each human being deserves justice or fairness. Is it fair to treat a nonprofessional, who does professional work or who has acquired the requisite experience and abilities without an M.L.S., differently from one who has an M.L.S.? Is it fair for a so-called professional who has an M.L.S. but who functions as a mere technician to be considered on the same level with one who has the requisite skills, competence, etc.? Is it not unethical to apply simplistic measures to a designation that has significant economic, social, and political consequences? Is it fair that nonlibrarians are hired as directors of libraries when in many cases their lack of experience of library functions and operations makes them ill-suited as administrators, personnel directors, or public relations officers? Finally, is it fair or just that professional nonlibrarians on library and information service staffs be treated better in terms of status, compensation, and privileges than professional librarians, all the while recognizing that a market-driven economy sets inequities among wages for different classes of employees?

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Ethical considerations regarding library nonprofessionals: competing perspectives and values

Library Trends, Wntr, 1998 by Thomas J. Froehlich

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