|
Candidates practice the ethical principles of their profession, advocate for intellectual freedom and privacy, and promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility.
Freedom to Read It is the job of the librarian to promote and advocate for intellectual freedom, privacy, and ethics for our students. To uphold this part of our job description I created a “Freedom to Read statement” during my Children’s Literature course that lays the groundwork for my students to feel they are welcome and safe in my library. In order to create lifelong learners, and insprire a lifelong love for reading the librarian has to put in place policies that protect his/her students and promotes their intellectual freedom. In no way should students feel stifled or restricted on what they can learn, but encouraged that their learning is limitless. My “Freedom to Read” statement is just that, it is the foundation for which I would like to build my library on some day. The statement ensures that all students are welcome in the library and that they are free to choose their own books to check out. It also ensures students that in my library they will always have a quiet place to read or study and, a librarian who will always be available to help or answer questions. Having this statement on my library website and posted in the library where all patrons can view it, will show the students and others they have come to a place where they will not be judged by what they check out. They will always have a place where they can feel comfortable and welcome to learn. The more educators can encourage students to learn whatever they can by providing them with a place where they can effectively learn is crucial to the development of our students. I feel with this assignment I was able to create such a document that I can use as a foundation in which to build my library and make it a learning community. If I had a chance to go back and revise this statement, I would only add to it to further clarify the safety of the library. It has been my experience that when students can feel welcome and safe, they will do their best learning. When the fear of being judged or being wrong is lifted, then students feel as though they can try their best without consequence. Standard 5.2 asks the librarians to promote and advocate for intellectual freedom and privacy and I will do everything in my power to ensure that my students can learn and try their very best everyday. |