Volume 43 | Issue 1 Article 6

2000 The hrC istian View Of Vocation For Librarians John Allen Delivuk Geneva College

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John Allen Delivuk, ike two brothers, western ness, calm, modesty and purpose. And civilization and Christianity the main purpose was service-the Automation Librarian, L grew up together. Christianity washing, turning, feeding and looking gave the civilization its virtues, its view after of patients too sick to care for Geneva College, of work, and its view of service. With themselves." Their role caused the Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania the decline of Christian influence, there decline of nursing. On the economic is an increasing separation between "right" nurses offended rational, virtue, service and work. This has led to efficient management. Nurses were vocational crisis in professions which made managers, issuing protocols from have described themselves as vocations. distant offices. On the political "left" Nurses, doctors and teachers have nursing offended egalitarianism, noticed the problem. This paper will individual professional autonomy, the make some observations concerning the cult of informality, and feminism. crisis, give historical and biblical More status had to be found for nurses. insights into our view of vocation, Status was not to be sought in demean­ discuss some errors with the view­ ing service but in expertise and points, give some proposals for managerial ism. In pursuit of expertise, improving the situation and conclude training was removed from the bedside with a summary. to the·university. Theory replaced practice. Loyalty to knowledge THE VOCATIONAL CRISIS replaced duty to vocation. The irony is that it has not increased recruitment. Let us begin with an example of the But it has severely damaged the true crisis in vocations. In a perceptive professionalism of nursing. article, Digby Anderson, a director of a Mr. Anderson added, "The story is London think tank discusses the not a new one. Teachers were twenty vocational crisis in nursing, a "part of a years ahead of nursing in committing wider crisis in professionalism." He professional suicide." Mr. Anderson observes that the number of persons draws a frightening conclusion. entering nurses training in Britain fell Professions have several character­ by 39% in the period from 1987 to istics. One of them, expertise, is 1994. The quality of patient care has currently assumed to be the defining declined and patients are not washed in element: The more expertise, the better some hospitals. Mr. Anderson summa­ state the profession is in. Nursing rizes what happened. Nurses were today has more expertise than ever trained on a monastic model. They before, and so do law and academe. obeyed rules of silence, obedience and But professionally, they are in trouble. duty. The climate was one of "serious- For becoming a nurse, professor, lawyer

16 The Chr1st1an}!:ibrarian, January 2000 or doctor is not about acqui ring a bunch through the vocation. rel igious vocations such as those of expert tricks but becoming a certain 3) It shows faith in God's presence as fo llowed by monks. Daily work was sort of person with certain virtues . ... illustrated by the model of Abram denigrated. Martin Luther took the Indeed, it's even more than that. It is fo llowing God's call to leave and go to word "vocati on" and applied it to all about entering a community, a college a different land (i.e., vocation).• dail y activities of all Christi ans. "Thus. of others with the same character. The Since it relates to our vocations as Christian vocation includes all aspects late 20th century has tried to have librarians. I will quote at length Dr. of life-fa mily, community. education, profession without virtue and it has not Siberski's example of vocational citi zenship. paid and unpaid work, and worked.1 influence. long-term and occasional responsibili­ Profession without virtue has not My twin bother and I attended a ties of other types ... 6 worked. And virtue without Jesus small public high school. Regina This essay is primari ly concerned Christ does not last long. Robaczewski, the librarian, was with paid work, and will emphasize it. determined that students should Let me note before going farther that THE DEFINITION OF VOCATION become self-sufficient in a library of paid work is only part of God's any kind. About 17 years after vocational will for us. The Latin language is the source of finishing high school, while The reformers. Martin Luther and the word, vocation. It comes from planning the guest list for a party to John Calvin, had two doctrinal pillars "voco, vocare, vocatus"-meaning "to celebrate his master's degree, Jim upon which they based their view of summon, to call, to name, to call upon, was adamant that M iss vocation. One was the universal to invite, to challenge."2 In English the Robaczewski, who had been in priesthood of believers, which marked word has a further meaning, when tied retirement for over a decade, be the beginning of a new understanding to the ideal of professionalism. It is invited. He responded to a quizzi­ of the laity.7 Luther used it to affirm the generally used as follows: cal look saying, "The only thing I common dignity, calling, and privileges 1) a regular occupation, especially learned in high school was how to of all believers before God. Both Israel one for which a person is particu­ use the library, which is how I got and the church are distinguished from larly suited or qualified; through this degree. If it weren' t for other peoples as a "kingdom or priests 2) an inclination, as if in response to her, this party would n't be happen­ and a holy nation" (Ex. 19:6; l Pet. 2:9; summons, to undertake a certain ing." The surprise on my face Rev. l :6; 5: 10). Al l church members kind of work, specially a religious refl ected that I had felt somethi ng are to offer spiritual sacri fices including career. The phase, "as if in re­ similar years earlier upon first praise and the service of Christian love sponse to a summons," introduces a walking into Penn State's sprawling (1 Pet 2:5; Heb. 13: 15-16).8 The mystical quality. If the word Patte Library as a freshman. "Big . universal priesthood implies an equality "profession" is brought into the . . but I can handle it." During the in the vocational callings of Christians . discussion, there is a degree of party we were able to thank her for The call to the priesthood of believers religious-secular conceptual the influence she had on our is a call to good works. God frequently crossover. One definition of that education. She glowed.5 calls us to vocations by showing us word, from the same dictionary, is A good librarian does make a difference. needs - needs we can meet. "Vocation an occupation requiring consider­ in this sense is not a voice in the night able training and specialized study. THE HISTORY AND but a steady preoccupation with a In most religious orders and THEOLOGY OF VOCATION particular need. Often the need is congregations the taking of final personified in an individual-St. vows is referred to as "maki ng one's Biblically, the idea of vocation was Francis· leprous beggar or Dr. profession." Professionalism is part establi shed early. Adam and Eve were Barnardo's first tarpaulin orphan." 9 In of vocation, but vocation suggests a called on to care for the creation (Gen. my case classmates asking me for help higher calling, something requiring 1:28). Noah was called to build an ark in using a library was a factor. time, training and commitment, with and save people, animals and birds The other pi liar of the Reformati on an ineffable quality that goes (Gen. 6: 13-22). In the New Testament, view of vocationalism was the doctrine beyond a job.3 Jesus called the twelve disciples before of creation. This understanding of Dr. John Siberski notes the follow- His death and Paul after it. The Bible creation encompasses several claims. ing characteristics of a vocation: promises that God will continue to call First " ... God is intimately in volved l) It includes a call to serve other men and women to follow Jesus, in with everything that is; we are never not people at some stage. religion and in work. in relationshi p to God.'' This means 2) It includes a call to influence or In the western church before the that He is involved with all jobs that be a model for other persons Reformation, "vocation" was li mited to people do. at a ll ti mes and places.

The Christian Librarian, January 2000 J ';' Second, "God is to be understood as frustration, conflict, and even tragedy in everything before replenishment is acting in the world primarily in and our work. We do not usually think of possible. There may be no one to through what is created." For example, such negative experience as giving comfort the comforter or heal the God creates new people through anything "meaning," but Luther would healer. Remembering God's promise to parents. God feeds people thorough advise us that this is a realistic way to Abram to show the way can take one our agricultural system. One way God look at life and work; therefore, these through some very difficult moments. 15 preserves and organizes knowledge is experiences too, belong to the meaning Faith also helps counter to the through librarians. Thus, people are of our work. 13 effects of sin by obtaining joy in our "co-workers" with God in the care of Biblical law is given in part to vocation. Faith in God gives delight in the earth and its fullness. 10 Third, God counter the effects of sin on our our work and enjoyment of the meaning created us. This implies that " ... vocations. As the Apostle John says, we find in it. Our achievements at work each man's vocation consists primarily of his creation as a unique individual, J7aith in God gives delight in our work and with a pattern of characteristics 1 bestowed on him by nature and nurture. 1 enjoyment ef the meaning we find in it.... His basic response to God the Creator Jesus' motivation far the vocation ef the cross was joy. should therefore be to realize his potentialities." 11 These potentialities "sin is the breaking of the law" (l John frequently contribute to our self­ are of course realized in the context of 3:4). The law convicts us of sin, which respect. Work enables us to find a God's will for our lives. leads to repentance and reformation of niche in which we contribute, use, and Let us move to the problem of sin behavior. Another very important develop our abilities.16 Jesus' motiva­ and evil that affects vocations. People function of the law is to tell us God's tion for the vocation of the cross was on earth do not love their neighbors or will. When Jesus summarizes the Law joy. (Heb. 12:2) the earth the way they should. They as love for God and neighbor, He is Faith also reminds us that God calls abuse others, themselves, and pollute saying that the biblical law teaches us us to growth through our troubles. the creation. In this context, salvation how to love our God and neighbor, Frequently our growth takes place in is offered in Jesus Christ to complete, which is the content of God's will response to needs that appear to be restore, and fulfill God's creative (Matt. 22:37-40). If I love my neighbor beyond our power. It is God creating work. 12 When a woman is converted by I will not steal from him, lie to him, within us the power to be the kind of believing on Jesus Christ for salvation abuse his daughter, or make him work person who can meet the challenges He and repenting of her sins, the change in when he should be at worship. Unfor­ sends us. A capricious girl is trans­ her life means that she treats her family tunately modern American society has a formed into a mother who is able to and co-workers better. She is kinder to view of law as restrictive. The Bible love her disabled child in a deep and her dog, and takes better care of her rejects this view and instead teaches constant wayl7 (see Psalm 113:9). plants. She is more likely to become that biblical law is to guide and aid us There are two important differences involved in volunteer work with in our service to God and our neighbor. in positions of Luther and Calvin. unselfish motives. Prof. Kolden said it well, "Law is Luther stresses that one serves God Salvation begins the life-long intended to serve creation, not shackle precisely in one's calling, in the types process of sanctification. Because we it; law is to guide creatures, not of activities that God requires. "The are sinners, our attitudes toward our imprison them."14 danger with Lutheranism's view of work are affected by our sin. We may The second counter to problems vocation is that it led all too easily to an find ourselves hating or resisting caused by sin is faith in God. The uncritical acceptance of the status quo aspects of our work God wants to put to effects of sin on work are many, long and a neglect of the Christian's role in use. Following the apostle Paul, Luther hours, low pay, back (or mind)­ social change." 18 said that God puts this old self to death breaking work, a lack of recognition, Calvin modified "Luther's position by the law, and the place where the law boring routines, grumpy colleagues, by stating that one serves God primarily works on us is in the demands of our unfair demands, and other people's through one's calling. The effect of this callings. Through the demands of our mistakes. Physician John Siberski modification was to add a transforma­ callings the sinful self is forced to love records how God's promise to Abram tive dimension to the idea of vocation: the neighbor (even as the new self in to leave the familiar and trust God One measures the value of one's fa ith gladly does so) and God puts the helped him through the long years of vocation in terms of the extent to which old self to death day by day. This medical school and the daily grind of it serves the purposes of faith. The notion of a cross in one's calling can healing people. outcome of this was a tendency on the assist us in making sense of failure, Giving of oneself daily can siphon part of Calvi nism in some situations to

18 The Ch;rs£jjn~Librarian, January 2000 downplay the mundane duties o f any persons could have vocations. the field s an important job qualification. It was given calling and to lift high the listed above. If vocation is limited to listed in the ad vertisements. How many glorious end this calling serves." 19 these occupations. do the other occupa­ recent read advertisements for librar­ A second difference between Luther tions become commodities to be bought ians list character as a qualification'1 and Calvin is that Luther focused on the and sold like merchandise·) This view Fortunately. it is still a considerati on in "need of the neighbor" in assessing created a divorce between jobs and the admission to li brary science school. whether any specific activity could be vocations. with two sets of values. Let us ponder some ways in which adjudged a d ivi ne calling: If good could Which set of values would win?22 the profession has changed. In the be accomplished through this activity. This view effected the treatment of early days of li brarianship. librarians then it constituted a divine calling. those in commodity type jobs. To give were expected to protect the public Beyond this, Calvin called attention to some idea how the people in non­ from '·bad books." Now the profession the gifts God had bestowed on a person. vocation jobs were treated in that ti me teaches that good books are good for Personal gifts were to be seen as divine peri od, I will tell a story from our people, but bad books are not bad for direction in seeking appropriate work. family history. In the early part of this people. I keep wondering how the If held together, the emphases of both century, my Grandfather was a coal American Library Association ·s Luther and Calvin are important. By miner for Frick Coal and Coke Com­ defending child pornography and those itself, Luther's emphasis, despite it's pany. The company mai ntained a who sell it helps li brarianshi p. Indeed salutary focus on the need of the strangle hold on the miners. Miners the current debate about Internet neighbor, coul d lead to a neglect of the li ved in company housing, were paid in fi ltering in libraries reminds one o f the development of one's talents or a a company script which was redeem­ "good book/bad book'' debates of years fai lure to confront alienating or able only at the company store, and past. dehumani zing work. By the same frequently laid off to prevent them from Nevertheless, there are some token, Calvin's emphasis could lead accumulating savings. To maintain its admirable virtues implied or stated in one to focus so much on personal gifts power, the company employed its own the ALA Code of Ethics of 1995. (talents, interests) that the notion of police force. It is no surprise that the These include "the highest level of rendering service evaporates, especially miners eventually went on stri ke. My service to all library users;' honesty in a secular society."20 Father told me of a striking famil y that with respect to intellectual property We move from the Reformation to had its furniture and belongings taken ri ghts, treating co-workers "with the 19th century Engli sh-speaking from the company house it resided in, respect, fairness and good faith," not world, when the modern profession of put in a wagon, carted out of the advancing our own interests at the librarianship was created. By the 19th company town into a fi eld, and dumped expense of our patrons, colleagues, or century the Reformation view of onto the field during a rainstorm. employers, not allowing our personal vocation had largely perished. In the 19th century vocation was beliefs to interfere with the fair repre­ Particularly under the influence of understood as "a calling away from sentation of our employers or access to Idealism, the fundamental criterion of other people, a calling out of the their resources, and striving for Christian vocation was reversed. The insecurity and suffering of the corporate excellence by improving our skill s and question became not so much how one reality of the mass market, or in short, continui ng education. If the American might best serve the community, but as a means of sanctifying ambitions Library Association would limit itself rather how one might most fruitfully put which were hardly altruistic.''23 to the activities li sted in its code of one's own gifts or talents to use in the As we know, modern Library ethics there would be more harmony search for self-fulfilment. The simple Science was largely founded by Mel vii among its members. In stead. there are economic and social rationalisation of Dewey and his co-workers. In Dewey's many groups seeking to use the voice of this step was to argue that the common biography we read that "character" was ALA to further their political agendas. good is the individual's self-interest.21 a qualification for librarians. Biogra­ The Association of College and In the 19th and early 20th centuries pher Wayne A. Wiegand records that Research Libraries has wisely limited the jobs given vocational status were Dewey himself had a vocation sense. its resolutions solely to matters affect­ education, medicine, law, the military, He credits Mr. and Mrs. Dewey with ing libraries. One hopes the rest of and possibly business. For most advocating the following virtues: ALA will do the same. persons, work was a matter of survival "Christian love, humility, self-control, rather than vocation. This elitism the Golden Rule , and a sense of duty ERRORS IN VOCATION THINKING represented a reintroduction of the pre­ wrapped tightly in a concept o f lifelong Reformation double vocational stan­ service to humankind."2,1 The "inner call" is often used in Chris­ dard in a secularized form. Library Science was founded near ti an circles as the means o f vocational The elitist view held th at only some the end of a time when "character'' was decision making. This usually means th at

The Christian Librarian, January 2000 11) God lays a call upon our heart without Li brary Association and librari anship in as ALA and the various state associa­ external means. However, the evidence general? The best work I know of thi s tions. Work your way up in the from the Bible is that the inner call is on this subject is Douglas Hyde's association by taking committee rarely used by God. Let us take some Dedication and Leadership. M r. Hyde assignments, or other ways. Think examples of God calling men to prove was a communist who rose to become about the issues facing the association. this point. From the Old Testament , the editor of the communist newspaper What does the Bible say about these Samuel is called by a voice he hears in in England. After his conversion, he issues? What is the Christian perspec­ the night, David and Saul are call ed to be wrote this book to inform Christians of tive on this issue? How can I serve in kings by God an honest and spea k ing / ost importantly, we have a responsibility to train other aboveboard through J librarians. This includes not only training in the manner? You Samuel, and will find that Isaiah was techniques ef library science, but also character development, hard work, called by vi­ and the understanding of a Christian world view and how honesty and sion in the consideration temple of call­ it applies to librarianship. for others are ing him. In the keys to ad­ New Testament, Jesus verbally calls the the legal and ethical methods commu­ vancement. I can hear the objections disciples to follow him. Paul is called to nists used to influence different now. "I don't have the time. I don't conversion by a vision. and Paul and associations, and encourage their have the money. I don' t have the Barnabas are called to be missionaries by imitation. energy. I don't have the talent." You the Holy Spirit working through the The first step is to do an excellent are right, of course you don't. That is means of church leaders (Acts 13:2). job in the library God has placed you why God wants us to pray, trust and Since the Holy Spirit contin ues work in. This gains the respect of colleagues obey, so He can help us overcome our through the church, the church is an ef­ and results in them listening better to needs for money, time, energy and fective agent of vocational calling. An us. Mr. Hyde observes: talent. Douglas Hyde gives several example from Church history wi ll show You may announce and organise suggestions on how to work through this. A unbaptized Roman official named a public meeting and if you work organizations to spread the Gospel.26 Ambrose went into a church to warn its sufficiently hard, perhaps for weeks We must also organize. It is members that the election for bishop and months on end and, if you have unlikely that one librarian can change should not degenerate into a riot. The a good or well-known speaker, you the course of the American Librarian resulting work of the Holy Spirit surprised many be able to get together an Association or the profession. A small everyone. Ambrose was elected bishop. audience of 5,000 people. If you organized group willing to pray and He was baptized and rushed through holy do, you will probably consider that work hard can have a great effect. orders, and became the famous St. you have had more than usual Those of you who have been deceived Ambrose of Milan, one of the greatest success. Bur capitalist society by the modern American obsession with bishops of the early church. These ex­ presents the Communist with, large body counts, should remember amples show that we must be careful maybe, scores of thousands of that God pared Gideon's army down to about too much emphasis on the internal people as a ready-made audience, 300 men. The Gideons, a group of men call to a vocation, and place more em­ not just once, but every day. This who are presently giving away a million phasis on the external call. The implica­ audience is presented to him free, at Bibles and New Testaments each week, tion here is that we should encourage the enemy's expense. The capital­ began with only two men a century ago. people with the talents to be good librar­ ists provide the building, they get God likes to use small groups to show ians to consider our profession, and not the people together and give him the His power. assume we are called to be librarians (or opportunity to be with them for six, Most importantly, we also have a anything else) without external support seven, maybe eight or more hours a responsibility to train other librarians, for our call. day. He stands among them at his especially our brothers and sisters. machine as they work, he eats with This includes not only training in the APPLICATIONS them in the canteen at lunchtime, techniques of library science, but also chats with them during the morning character development, and the In considering our call as Christian and afternoon tea breaks.25 understanding of a Christian world view librarians, we must ask, what can Work gives us a wonderful opportu­ and how it applies to librarianship. Christians called to be librarians do to nity to share Jesus Christ. Next, become Those of us who have not had the change the direction of the American active in professional associations such opportunity for this kind of traini ng

20 T he Chrlstian Librarian, January 2000 must make up for it through, reading, never be the same for him again. 1°Kolden. p. 263. seminars, Association of Christian Suddenly. no matter how degraded Librarians conferences, or whatever that work might be, it became 11 Adair. p. 296. God makes available.27 The most meaningful for him. His Christiani ty valuable suggestion I can make is for suddenly became relevant to hi s 12 Kolden. p. 264. the ACL to design a training program work. . .. His beliefs could be based on chapter fo ur of Hyde ·s work. related to cleaning the mo nsoon 1.1 Kolden, p. 269. This could be a motivational course drains the next day, or pedalling designed to teach Christian librarians a away from morning till night on a 14 Kolden, p. 265. Christian worldview and inspire them to heavy trishaw."29 use their professions and Jives to battle God has chosen to put H is work in 15 Siberski , p. 24. against evil in our society. our hands, may we prove faithful. I would like to close with a sum­ 16 Kolden, p. 269. mary of a sermon Douglas Hyde once heard from an old Indian priest of some 17 John Adair. 'The Doctrine of Creation." very poor people. The priest told his 1 Digby Anderson, "Work without Virtue, or Theology 67 (July 1964) pp. 295-298. congregation that the Decline of Professionalism," The Wall [T)he women on the first Easter Street Joumal, 29 October 1998, p. A22. 18 Kolden, p. 267. Sunday went for looking in the garden for the risen Lord. They 2 John R. Siberski. "Medicine: Vocation 19 Ibid. looked in the tomb, and they did not or Job?" America, May 5, 1996, p. 22. find Him there. They looked 20 Ibid. around the garden; again they could 3 Ibid. not find Him. But, said the 21 Iain G. Nicol. "Vocation and the People preacher, "you do not have to look 4 Ibid. of God." Scottish Journal of Theology in a tomb, you do not have to look 33 (no. 4, 1980), pp. 362. around a garden to find the risen 5 Ibid., p. 23. Lord. He is in your hands. When 22 Ibid., p. 365. you go out to work tomorrow, 6 Marc Kolden. "Work and Meaning: whether you are riding a trishaw, or Some Theological Reflections." Inter­ 23 Ibid., p. 369. digging a drain or whatever you pretation 48 (July 1994), pp. 267. There may be doing as your daily work, has been broadening of the Roman Catho­ 24 Wayne A. Wiegand, Irrepressible you will be co-operating in God's lic view of vocation since the Reforma­ Reformer, (Chicago: American Library work of creation. God is in your tion. For example, Siberski quotes Car­ Association, 1996) p. 85, 3 11 , 55-56. hands.28 dinal Joseph Bernandin as saying that While the sermon was going on Mr. medicine is a vocation (Siberski, p. 22). 25 Douglas Hyde, Dedication and lead­ Hyde watched a poor, age weary Indian This article focuses on the Protestant ership, (Notre Dame, Ind.: University of coolie. viewpoint that has been most influential Notre Dame Press, 1966) p. 97. As the preacher said the words o n English and American societies. "God is in your hands," I saw the 26 See pages 143-146 ofHyde concerning how old man look at his toil-worn, 7 Iain G. Nicol. "Vocation and the People to witness for Jesus and tum organizations to calloused, twisted hands, and of God." Scottish Joumal of Theology a Christian worldview. broken nails, almost in awe. 33 (no. 4, 1980), p. 362. Something tremendous was happen­ 27 For an excellent example of how train­ ing to him. One could watch a great 8 New Dictionary of Theology, 1988, s.v . ing can change an unlikely candidate see yet simple truth enter his conscious­ "Priesthood of All Believers," by C. the chapter entitled "The Story of Jim" ness. Recognition of it spread Eastwood. For a book length study see, in Hyde, p. 62-72. For ideas on training across this face, which took on a C. Eastwood, The Priesthood of All Be­ see Alexander Balmain Bruce. The Train­ look of sheer wonderment. lievers. An examination of the Doctrine ing of the Twelve. Throughout the rest of the sermon from the Reformation to the Presellf Day. he looked, time after ti me, at the (London: Epworth Press. 1960). 28 Ibid., p. 95-96. hands which had suddenly taken on a new, sublime significance. It is 9 John Adair. "The Doctrine of Creation." 29 Hyde, p. 96. my guess that his work . . .. would Theology 67 (July 1964) p. 297.

The Christian Librarian, January 2000 '.! I (Comi1111ed from page 9.) "ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF 1 Cale. Fred H. The /111emet a11d the First Amendme11t: Schools Frustration over the YOUR FILTERING SOFTWARE?" and sexually exp/icir expression. issue of Internet fi lters So1'1l.:\\hat Ncutml Sonc,\lli.11 Bloomington. IN: Phi Delta arises because the soft- Satistk!d l>is~,111..;li...:d Kappa Educational Foundation. ware is imperfect but also Null"hcr responding 10 of 21 3 of21 :? ul 2 1 30121 3of l lJ 1998. p. 35. 14',1 11•·h" 1-''1 1-''A perhaps because librar­ ' American Li brary Association. ians feel powerless on Bmntl n:.urc~ of N2H3 131.:ss '\Vcbscn.~ Wcbs.e11.>tc lk~~ Hess (R:111:..'U-GJ filtering sc11lwun:: Reso/11tio11 m1 the use of internet their own campuses. <·ybcr l':uro\ Hcdgcl,uildcn. l >on't know ('~bcr.-iucr ("yhcr l ):itrol filters. American Library Asso­ (3 institutM)ns) ·ciation. 1999. Online. Available: One librarian com­ SurfW;itch Don't know Novell Uordcr Mk:ro:!-ttfi l'ro:-..y M:.m:.IG'!f" http ://www.ala.org/alaorg/oi fl mented, "A good portion S-.·rvt.:r filt_res.html. 13 Nov 1999. of the negative response Smirt f!thcr 3 to filtering was due to Slllf \Vmch Burt. David. Filtering Facts. (2 institU1K>11.~) the lack of information Online. Available: http:// J)o1f1 know www.filteringfacts org. 29 Nov that the filter would (2 ir.stitutXms) 1999. be installed." Another reported that the li brarians had "no say" ware on the system. The library ' Stross, Randal E. "The cybcr vice squad." U. S. in the selection of the filter. faculty felt bad because we Nell's & World Report 122. no. IO (March 17. This particularly disturbing account weren' t consulted. We could have 1999): p.45. came from one library: given some insights on the pros s Schuyler. Michael. "When docs filtering turn into "Our University Administra­ and cons of fi ltering." censorship?" Computers in Libraries 17. no .S tion (Cabinet) without anybody' s Many institutions have decided to (May 1997): p. 34. knowledge decided to put a filter restrict access to email, chat-rooms, and 6 Cate. p. 3. (Net Nanny) on the university games, especially on computers in the computer system in January 1998. library. Most libraries rely on an ' Karen Brady. "Dropout Rise a Net Result of Com­ Students, faculty and staff started "acceptable use policy" in these cases, puters." The 811.ffalo Nell's, 2 1 April 1996. p Al. getting messages that the internet but enforcement falls upon the library s Young, Kimberly S. Caught in the net: ho11· site they were trying to access was staff. Some have decided not to /0 recognize the sig11s n.f /111emet addiction - and b locked. Many people across enforce the policy "unless someone is a winning strategy for recovery. New York: J. campus did not or could not waiting in li ne to use the computers in Wiley, 1998, p. 192. figure out why all of the sudden the lab for a reference purpose", or • Cate, p. 54. sites that they had used were "when someone complains". Many 1°Cate, p. 54. being blocked. They did not campuses restrict games because of the 11 Young. p. 165. realize it was because of filtering great amount of bandwidth that is required 1 software. Finally the word got out 2 Schneider, Karen G. "Selecting Inte rnet fi lter­ to run them. ing software: buyer beware." American Libraries after three days. Many of the The majority (48% ) of institutions 28, no.5 (May 1997): 84. faculty, graduate students and with filters were satisfied. Most 1 some undergraduates complained seemed to have an understanding of the 3 Bruce, David. "Filtering the Internet for young to the administration about cen­ people: products and problems." Tearher Librar­ procedures to unblock a legitimate site ian 26, no.5 (May/June 1999): p. 13. sorship and academic freedom. and most have a good working relatio n­ " Schneider, p.85. Someone called the local paper, ship with their system administrator and and reporters from the media computer staff. 15 Chapin. Rich. "Content management, filtering and the World Wide Web." THE Journal 27. started asking questions. An As Internet filters are imperfect at best, no.2 (September 1999): p. 45 . article that was tastefully written Christian librarians must understand the about filtering and our university issues, understand the technology, and be 16 Schneider, p. 85. was on the front page. The Cabi­ willing to join in the campus decision­ 17 Chapin, p. 45. net saw that the software was not making process. If we choose to filter " Bruce, p. 14. working like they thought it would the Internet, we must also interact with 19 Dermott, Irene. "Down these mean links a child after some testing and decided not vendors and demand improved filter might go: safety tips for travel on the open Web." to use filtering software. I think performance. We must be active in Searcher 7. no.S (May 1999): p. 6 1. that most of the faculty here felt writing and enforcing campus-wide ,o Stross, p.47 . betrayed because the administra­ "acceptable use" computer policies. 21 Bruce. p. 14. tion did not feel that a campus And we must never forget the ultimate 22 Stross. p.45. wide discussion on fi ltering was truth as expressed by one librarian, needed before loading the soft- "Transformed hearts are the best filters." 23 Schneider. p.84.

22 T he Christian Librarian, January 2000