Privacy is one of the core values of librarianship. Along with confidentiality, it is instrumental in upholding principles of the Library Bill of Rights, particularly freedom of expression and free access to ideas. However, there are many threats to privacy, especially in the online world. Consumers are continuously generating data for companies, often with very few opportunities to opt out, and with very little understanding of how that data is collected and used.
This presentation will examine privacy problems in the digital world, consider the value of privacy to both individuals and a democratic society, and serve as a forum for solutions. Librarians' relationships with other departments and expertise as information professionals place us in a strong position to be leaders for our campus communities in raising awareness of privacy issues and offering practical solutions. However, it can be a challenge to find the right opportunities. Although learning to manage online privacy is an important part of information literacy, it is often left out of instruction sessions. As such, we need to find other ways to encourage students to take control of their personal privacy.
In this session attendees will be encouraged to share ideas and participate in discussion. We will discuss strategies, and hear from colleagues about policies or programs they have implemented in their own institutions. The ideas we generate will be collected and made available after the presentation.