Volume 44 | Issue 2 Article 4

2001 Objectivity, Values, And The hrC istian Librarian Steve Baker Union University

The Christian Librarian is the official publication of the Association of Christian Librarians (ACL). To learn more about ACL and its products and services please visit //www.acl.org/

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/tcl Part of the Library and Information Science Commons

Recommended Citation Baker, Steve (2001) "Objectivity, Values, And The hrC istian Librarian," The Christian Librarian: Vol. 44 : Iss. 2 , Article 4. Available at: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/tcl/vol44/iss2/4

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Christian Librarian by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. OBJECTIVITY, VALUES, AND THE S LIB

Steve Baker, e central questions of Christian basis of our work, but sooner or later librarianship in the postmodern we run headlong into circumstances that Emma Waters world involve the philosophical force us to examine the nature and implica­ Summer Library, grounds of collection development. Are tions of our professional value system. there reliable objective grounds for Recently, one of our more thought­ Union University, attempting to build balanced collections? ful students came to me with several Jackson, Tennessee What values ought to guide the librarian in books on Catholicism that she wanted this task? How will the application of those to donate to the library. She indicated values differ in the context of an evangelical her dissatisfaction with the quality of Christian institution? the collection with regard to Catholic It is no secret that librarianship is Church teaching. Being a practicing now in the midst of a severe crisis. One Catholic, she was obviously offended symptom of this is the debate surround­ by some of the books in our collection. ing the future direction of library The books she offered dealt with education. 1 It seems that the extreme several areas of Catholic dogma from a pressures of societal change have clearly Catholic perspective. As one driven us once again to re-examine the might expect, being an institution of theoretical grounds of our profession. Baptist tradition, our library does not For this reason, the presentation by have an extensive Catholic collection. It Michael Gorman at the Association of primarily consists of academic mono­ Christian Librarians Conference 2000 graphs dealing with the history of was particularly timely. As a member of Catholicism, some biographies of ALA's Task Force on Core Values, he outstanding church figures, and the has been involved in the process of works of a few major Catholic writers. recasting the values that characterize Added to this mix are a number of the profession. 2 His thoughtful re­ apologetic texts from the Protestant minder of the essential values that have perspective. It was obvious that our guided our profession, along with the collection was somewhat biased at this open discussion of those values on the particular point. Believing that there is final day of conference, served to great value in maintaining some stimulate my own thinking. As librar­ semblance of balance in the collection, ians whose professional practice is I gladly accepted this student's gift and intentionally informed by evangelical had them added to the collection. If at faith, we need to give serious thought to some time in the future these newly the theoretical basis of librarianship. added books caused controversy, I must Only then will we be prepared to be prepared to present a well reasoned formulate a theory oflibrarianship that defense of my actions. is both philosophically coherent and After reflecting on this event and informed by our faith. the words of Dr. Gorman I pose the In our daily routine few of us following questions. Are there any consciously reflect on the philosophical reliable grounds for building balanced

The Ch~€J!}brarian, 4-4(2) 2001 collections in a postmodern world? If so, theme in postmodern thought. Ifobjectivity increasingly fragmented world of scholar­ what are the defining values oflibrarianship in the scientific fields is open to ship. Shera believed the only two choices that might give guidance and where did they question then all disciplines face a for affecting such coordination were originate? Then too, how will the applica­ common objectivity problem. This is authoritarianism and democracy. The tion of these library values in the context of certainly the case in librarianship. discipline of"social epistemology" was to evangelical Christian faith differ from their The American Library Association provide tools to ensure that democratic application in some other setting? In partial codified neutrality in 1948 with the processes guided this coordination of answer to these questions I attempt three adoption of the Library Bill of Rights. 7 This scholarship. 12 Since he viewed librarianship things in this paper. First, I examine some of document remains the central philosophical as a profession primarily focused on the the challenges that postmodemists present statement oflibrarianship the present debate "management ofknow ledge," he closely to our professional values. Second, I briefly over core values notwithstanding. More aligned it with this new discipline. 13 He review some of the intellectual roots of than any other document, it provides also recognized that in librarianship the librarianship. Third, I look at some of the librarianship with shared objective criteria problem of objectivity was particularly current alternatives for establishing a for decision making and operates as a acute, as the following passage suggests: coherent grounding for our profession and powerful disciplinary catalyst. At its July The only rule that governs research build them into an evangelical framework. 2000 meeting ALA adopted an official is the rule of objectivity ... Reason­ interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights ing or observation diluted with OBJECTIVTIY QUESTIONED concerning intellectual freedom. This emotion becomes sophistry or Librarians are not alone in feeling interpretation begins with the following dogma. We submit that these are uneasy about the tenuous ground upon suggestive language: particular threats to research which their professional values are A strong intellectual freedom librarianship, for librarianship is a based. All disciplines of the Western perspective is critical to the service, and a service is always liberal academy face a similar predicament. development of academic library in jeopardy from emotion. The Since the 1960s objectivity, a basic tenet of collections and services that librarian means to do good, and the academy, has been under heavy attack dispassionately meet the education by dint of self-sacrifice and hard from postmodern thinkers. They have and research needs of a college or work he does what he means to effectively demonstrated that value free university community. 8 do, and therefore that which he inquiry is a chimera; one always brings This unambiguous reminder to build does is good. 14 values and a degree of subjectivity to areas collections and design services "dispassion­ Shera understood that the very nature of of inquiry. Even disciplines long considered ately" points up how deeply the profession the librarian's task is laden with value; that to be particularly objective, such as those in is committed to value free library service. there is a "essential tension" between the sciences, now find their objectivity Echoes of David J. Foskett's classic objectivity and subjectivity in its called into question. The pure objectivity of statement on the objectivity project in practice. While his goal of establishing the sciences is no longer taken for granted, librarianship can be heard in virtually all a new discipline never materialized he as shown through the work of Thomas statements like this that emanate from was prophetic in one significant way. Kuhn. Kuhn challenged the objectivity of ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom.9 One He accurately pointed to the choice the hard sciences through a careful analysis can almost hear the phrase ''no religion, no librarianship must make between authoritar­ of the social process that lies behind one politics, no morals" reverberating through ian vs. democratic means for the coordina­ scientific theory overturning and replacing the halls of deliberation.10 tion of its own purpose. 15 This choice another.3 As he explains it, within the A librarian who sensed early on the would become a defining faultline for the scientific community there are certain shaky foundation of objectivity in profession's commitment to objectivity established criteria which, when taken librarianship was Jesse H. Shera. He during the last quarter of the twentieth together, "provide the shared basis for remains one of the profession's most century, as it struggled to find its purpose in theory choice."4 As Kuhn rightly points creative thinkers of the twentieth century. the post-industrial information age. out, the application of these objective He and others at the University of Chicago During the 1970s and 1980s many in criteria do not always agree. When two were studying the intellectual forces at work the profession began advocating the criteria point toward opposing choices in society and attempting to build a new adoption of an information science model in it creates a problem that may only be discipline they called "social epistemol­ hopes of securing its place in the new resolved by some individualized means.5 ogy."11 In his 1954 commencement address information age. In the process, the As he puts it, "every individual choice to Western Reserve University, Shera briefly profession's historic commitment to between competing theories depends on a outlined this new discipline and the problem objectivity was challenged because of the mixture of objective and subjective factors, it was meant to address. It was aimed at model's threat to our shared democratic or of shared and individual criteria.''(, Such providing the knowledge base necessary to values. Jorge Sosa and Michael Harris have problems of objectivity are a central accomplish an effective coordination of the argued that librarianship in the 1970s and

The Ch;_fs€}Jbibrarian, 44(2) 2001 55 1980s largely adopted the post-industrial those who view the world through a lens of cannot be disentangled from information model as a paradigm for the evangelical faith, such despair and hunger prevailing conceptions of the good profession. According to this model, for power will not satisfy. For them the and the real ...the founders of the libraries would in time become nothing task remains to establish new theoreti­ modern university were not wedded more than museums or warehouses as their cal grounds for the profession. to a naive correspondence theory of content migrated into virtual libraries Other disciplines are already well on truth, and they made important accessible through computer networks. their way toward such regrounding. concessions to truth's historicity, to Unfortunately, the pursuit of such a Librarians would do well to follow the paths its conventionality, and occasionally model for libraries has contributed to being laid by historians, who in recent years even to it cultural variability. the creation of a digital divide separat­ have been reestablishing the philosophical Fallibility they accepted. But they ing the information rich and poor. 16 The grounds of objectivity. In 1994, a trio of did not doubt that some interpreta­ continuing pursuit of this model calls historians published an important book tions were better than others, better into question the profession's long entitled Telling the Truth About History. In it in the strong sense that did not standing commitment to objectivity. they attempted to reconstruct the basis for necessarily depend on correspon­ In the decade of the 1990s much of the objectivity in historical scholarship. Starting dence and yet was not reducible to philosophical basis for librarianship's with acceptance of the postmodern perspective. 22 commitment to objectivity came under a understanding of knowledge and its Haskell aims to provide a way out of the more direct attack from postmodernism. 17 subjectivity, they argued for a new theory of relativist dead-end of postmodernism. He Much of that assault took the form of an objectivity called "practical realism." This does this by advocating a moderate attack on the claims of positivism similar to admittedly limited view of objectivity is historicism that admits the contingency of that which had been going on for many rooted in an understanding of how lan­ all truth claims but makes room for the years in other disciplines. Jim Zwadlo guage, narrative, and memory operate in the possibility that some claims retain value provides a useful review of some of these human mind. For them knowledge is always over time and place. Furthermore, these recent postmodern critiques oflibrarianship. subjective, in the sense that it is perspec­ truths can be discovered through the process These include the interpretation of tival. However, some limited approximation ofcausal reasoning. 23 The work of these librarianship from the perspective of of objective truth is still possible. Take for historians suggests that there are coherent Edmund Husserl's phenomenology and example the courtroom testimony of three ways to counter the postmodern threat to Michael Foucault's analysis of knowledge eyewitnesses to a murder. When called objectivity and traditional library values. as discourses ofpower. 18 Zwadlo then adds to the witness stand each communicates Librarians have a large stake in the his own postmodern twist by adopting a a subjective perspective of a real event to questions of objectivity and truth these radically pragmatic stance that totally the jury. While their testimonies may differ historians worry over. If there is no answer abandons any normative truth for in some details, taken together they can to the postmodern formulations that truth is librarianship. He seriously doubts that provide an approximation of objectivity unattainable and all ethical judgements are positivism ever operated as a working close enough to convict or acquit. Such relative then knowledge itself is hopelessly philosophy for librarianship. Even if it did, approximation of objectivity is what culture bound. In such an intellectual world according to him, it would be futile for practical realism aims to establish.20 libraries become meaningless structures. librarians to worry over it because they Another historian who has attempted to Assume for a moment that a carefully don't need a philosophy anyway. reestablish grounds for objectivity is selected and painstakingly cataloged Zwadlo seems to be lost somewhere on Thomas Haskell. His approach has been to collection of medical resources is nothing the far side of the Tower of Babel. As follow the basic contours of pragmatic more than one representation of current he puts it, "Librarians should use philosophy. He argues strongly for medical knowledge among myriad other methods that work, that serve the ends confidence in the truth claims established by possibilities some of which are constructed of the library, its users, and the commu­ communities of the competent. The title of on much less rigorous standards. Would nity, instead of trying to justify privileged his recent collection of essays, Objectivity ls anyone have confidence in a doctor who claims oftruth. 19 Yes, the postmodern Not Neutrality, is suggestive. Haskell believed that one library is as good as the challenge to the philosophical grounds of carefully differentiates between the next in gathering data for diagnosis and librarianship has caused some to question dispassionate stance that is devoid of treatment? Fortunately, the reputable the meaning of our professional value any judgement whatsoever and the self­ physician knows that access to an authorita­ system. For those who despair of finding conscious detachment that arises out of tive collection of medical knowledge is normative professional values the path to involvement in an authoritative essential to positive outcomes. By training authoritarianism, like the lure of power community.21 The following passage and professional association librarians are presented by the information science model, from his essay on academic freedom part of a community of competence may be a temptation that proves irresistible. illustrates his approach: important to all areas of scholarly enterprise But for many librarians, and especially The fate of academic freedom and to the public enterprise of democracy as

56 The Ch;:_fs€_b}hibrarian, 44(2) 2001 well. Their work of selecting, categorizing, forthcoming. 25 The process might turn out man provided libraries with an abiding preserving, and making accessible the to be as painful as any previous value attachment to realism and rationalism. This collective memory of humanity is inherently conflict we have yet experienced. A more is well illustrated by the development of the value laden. When the public librarian productive approach is to explicate more classical college in Europe. In the library of places restrictions on a certain video fully the philosophical grounds of profes­ the classical college the shelves were because the content is not suitable for sional librarianship. This will lead to a stocked with the works of classical writers all audiences, s/he does so on the basis better understanding of how librarians along with current texts in history, math­ of some moral principle. got to the place where they are and ematics, logic, the natural sciences, and When the academic librarian recom­ where they are headed in the future. moral philosophy. Its purpose was to mends one book as the best among several Gorman 's list of values is derived from support the institution's goal of creating others of similar content s/he does so from exanuning the philosophical writings ofS. gentlemen of sound reason, good some value judgement. At the same time, if R. Ranganathan, Jesse Shera, Samuel character, and refined taste.28 these librarians do not exercise a degree of Rothstein, and Lee Finks. His initial analysis Certain aspects of the realism and detachment then they run the risk of doing a of their respective contributions is couched rationalism found in the classical college are disservice to their patrons. They probably in a discussion about "the continuum of still reflected in some of today's liberal arts cannot maintain pure neutrality in the pragmatism to idealism."26 In his view, colleges and the "great books" debate. The conduct of their work; but if they do their these two competing philosophies are literature on the philosophy of librarianship work well, they certainly can maintain some deeply rooted in librarianship and a constant expresses a good bit of such thought. Some measure of objectivity. What I mean is source of conflict While Gorman does not of the most profound statements of library librarians by training and association have explore this tension in any detail, his insight realism can be found in the work of Louis developed the tools and techniques that is suggestive. He understands that behind Shores, who boldly characterized equip them to make judgements which in the values he expounds there are fundamen­ librarianship as "the profession of des­ some limited ways approximate the tal philosophical ideas that give those values tiny."29 He wrote eloquently of the "generic objectivity of truth; or at the least, reflect the meaning. Admittedly, both idealism and book as the sum total ofmans communica­ consensus of an authoritative community. pragmatism are philosophical constructs tion possibilities."30 His definition of the that have aninlated the course oflibrary library profession stands as a hallmark of ENDURING VALUES history in profound ways. On the other realism and rationalism. In his most recent book, Our hand, there is something much more Librarianship is the profession Enduring Values, Michael Gorman complex about the philosophical roots dedicated to the preservation, outlines eight core values of of our profession. A fuller understand­ dissemination, investigation, librarianship. 24 It would be difficult to ing and appreciation of those roots will interpretation of the knowledge argue with the importance and efficacy serve to provide us with better guidance most significant to mankind.31 of these values as general principles. as we seek to make application of our More recently, Lee Finks reminded ·Stewardship professional values. librarians that "philosophical values reflect -Service Some vary capable historians have our traditional love of wisdom and the ·Intellectual freedom traced the historical development of truth ...that human reason is a priceless ·Rationalism libraries in the West.27 From these we can thing, and the edifice of scholarship and -Literacy and learning identify some major philosophical currents learning that has built up through the ages ·Equity of access to recorded that have influenced the formulation of has our respect and commitment."32 knowledge and information library values. The great explosion of book Realism and rationalism continue to be ·Privacy publishing made possible by the invention meaningful intellectual constructs that ·Democracy of movable type, coupled with the funda­ provide grounding for library values. However, there are times in mental changes in medieval thought However, the history of librarianship in the librarianship when two or more of these patterns sparked by the Renaissance and West has demonstrated that the ideal of principles come into direct conflict In one Reformation, led to a more prominent yet building collections "of the knowledge most recent article, Ann Symons and Carla circumscribed role for the library by the significant to mankind" is fraught with Stoffle documented some of the more seventeenth century. Beginning in the early danger. In the past library collections were painful of these conflicts within our modem period and continuing to the built in part to support the ideology of the profession. The episodes they documented Enlightenment, libraries were heavily elite as a means of controlling others. 33 The provide ample warning of the dangers influenced by the principles of freedom and temptation of power is relentless. involved in raising legitimate library values humanism inherent in the social, religious, The Enlightenment period ushered in to the level of absolutes. Their wish for the and cultural changes taking place at the more radical influences that had a profound development of some "hierarchy of time. The emphasis on the classics, the effect on Western intellectual tradition. The professional values" will probably never be expansion ofliteracy rates, and the focus on emergence of a powerful egalitarian spirit

The Chi=J.s€71J!}brarian, 44(2) 200 I 57 and the enthronement of the empirical ized as "social sciences" to indicate their discourse. Then too, they should acknowl­ method fundamentally altered the outlook ground in empirical methodology.35 edge that in some ways ideology shapes all of the Western mind. These impulses The influence of empiricism on scholarship. Lastly, they ought to make brought about revolutionary change in all librarianship is most strongly felt in its their particular perspectives as transpar­ areas of society, including the library. The emphasis on objectivity. This is reflected in ent as possible.38 demise of authoritarianism and the march the work of some oflibrarianship's most One very important rule that Marsden toward democracy in the West was creative thinkers. Early in the twentieth challenges is the rule of objectivity, which instrumental in the development of library century S. R. Ranganathan applied a too often has been invoked as a way of values, as we understand them today. It is no rigorous scientific method to the study excluding religious perspectives from coincidence that the appearance of public of libraries and developed his five laws scholarly discourse. It is important to note libraries both in Europe and in America of library science. that he is arguing against the strict positivist followed shortly after more democratic 1. Books are for use construction of objectivity that cannot allow forms of government took hold. Then, as 2. Every reader his book for anything beyond the empirically Western society became further democra­ 3. Every book its reader verifiable. Unfortunately, he doesn't attempt tized in the later nineteenth century, public 4. Save the time of the reader any reestablishment of the objectivity rule libraries experience dramatic growth. The 5. Library is a growing organism36 on grounds more amenable to religious founding of the American Library Associa­ These laws are so deceptively perspectives except to argue for their tion in the year of America's centennial simple that their fuller implications may acceptance by analogy to other perspectives celebration is symbolic oflibrarianship's not be readily apparent. The deductive such as gender and race. 39 Christian close connection to democratic values. logic of these laws is essentially an scholarship should be careful not to dismiss Public libraries have from their inception application of the empirical objectivity wholesale the rule of objectivity, for doing played a key role in fostering the kind of project. Taken together they strongly so only invites all manner of error from informed citizenry essential to healthy imply that libraries should dispassion­ uncontrolled bias. For Christian democratic institutions. 34 ately provide books for all readers. librarianship especially, some working The empirical method as first advanced grounds for objectivity seems to be essential by Locke, Berkeley, and Hume was AN EVANGELICAL APPROACH to our task. Otherwise, much of our concerned with understanding the connec­ So far what has been said here concern­ professional reason for being is thrown into tion between knowledge and sense ing the philosophy of librarianship may hold question. Christian librarians might do well experience. Over time empiricism became equally for librarians of Christian faith, to adapt the approach to objectivity found in more rigidly focused on that which was other faiths, or no faith at all. So one the practical realism or the moderate verifiable by the senses as the only question remains. Just how will the library historicism of Haskell described earlier. knowledge open to the mid. This extreme philosophy of the evangelical Christian be Also, for those of evangelical perspec­ formulation, commonly known as positiv­ distinctive? Christian librarians would do tive who may find these limited supports for ism, effectively eliminated revelation and well to study serious Christian scholars from objectivity unacceptable, there are possibili­ other forms ofspecial knowledge from other disciplines to find models for ties for constructing a more substantial intellectual discourse on the grounds that integrating faith perspectives into their own philosophy. The well-respected evangelical they were not verifiable. This theory of discipline. A gocxl example is the work of historian, Mark Noll, advocates "chastened knowledge had a profound impact on the historian George M. Marsden. For several realism" as one such possibility. His point of development of the academic enterprise. It years Marsden has been arguing that departure is the "common sense" realism of resulted in a dichotomy between the Christian perspectives should be accepted in the Scottish Enlightenment philosophers. sciences, which lent itself easily to the the realm of scholarship on equal footing From there he develops a moderate form of empirical method, and the humanities, with other popular perspectives such as realism which affirms a rational and which found large areas of its intellectual gender, race, orethnicity.37 A key emphasis purposeful universe. This conceptual framework undermined. Most disciplines in his argument is that Chtistian scholarship framework provides a strong support for the undertook efforts to reformulate their work ought to play by the generally accepted objectivity of knowledge while at the same on the basis of empiricism, which contrib­ rules of the academic game. He reflects on time allowing for certain limitations on uted to a further splintering of the academy. these at length in his book, The Outrageous objectivity which have been accurately This typically included a heavy emphasis on Idea of Christian Scholarship. First he portrayed by postmodern critics.40 objectivity, or value free inquiry. When the suggests that Christian scholars give due Returning now to Marsden, it may be German mcxlel of the university developed respect to the liberal pragmatic methcxl that helpful to see how he qualifies Christian as a system in the nineteenth century it was has proven so effective in furthering scholarship in three important ways. To intrinsically connected with empiricism. As knowledge. They also should refrain begin with he affirms that "Christian new disciplines emerged and older ones from appeals to special knowledge since perspectives on academic topics will not were recast they were frequently character- this is frequently off limits in professional change everything, but will change some

58 The Ch~€bJ"ybrarian, 44(2) 2001 things." 41 On the one hand, much of the Millard Erickson does this by distinguishing -Grounds for believing the world scholar's work in terms of technique and between "soft" and "hard" post-modern­ to be rational and orderly. methodology will be unaffected by a faith ists. 45 According to Erickson, "soft ·Hold to purpose in the perspective. On the other hand, when the postmodemism" effectively challenges the world ... that there is always a scholar's work addresses more fundamental strict limitations placed on knowledge and reason why things happen. questions of meaning and purpose, then a human communicability by the positivists. It -Satisfactorily explain how faith perspective will make a significant also allows for a certain degree of communication between difference. As he illustrates, 'There may not relativism, due to the effects of the individuals is possible. be a Roman Catholic chemistry, but there is social construction of objectivity. Its -Should not be totally disinterested. a Roman Catholic view of nature."42 This open epistemology allows for knowledge -Must. ..not be narrowly intolerant'8 line of thought recognizes that while there beyond the empirically verifiable and the For obvious reasons he understood that may not be a uniquely evangelical influence of social perspectives. This has humanism would be better suited to the librarianship, there certainly is an the beneficial effect of opening the way for secular librarian, while theism provided a evangelical view of the freedom, which Christian perspectives to get a hearing. On sturdy grounding for the Christian will inform the task oflibrarianship. the other hand, "hard postmodemism" librarian.49 The humanism and theism Secondly, according to Marsden, ''for poses a direct threat to Christian perspec­ he explored essentially return to the claims Christianity to make a difference it does not tives, indeed to all perspectives, since it ofrationalism and realism for answers mean that the perspective must be uniquely adopts a plural conception of truth. although they start from different places. Christian.''13 Though we may at times refer Knowledge is so thoroughly subjective Waller seems to have been either to Christian scholarship as something that rationality and objectivity become unaware of the philosophical systems of distinctive in and of itself, it may be more meaningless. Not only are there various postmodernism emerging at the time of his accurate to say that our scholarship is rooted perspectives of truth but there are many writing or he simply ignores them. in some uniquely Christian ideas. Two equally valid truths.46 Such conceptions of In 1982, Stanford Terhune provided a scholars, one Christian and the other atheist, knowledge and truth are detrimental to the helpful analysis of Christian library service may arrive at the same conclusion or ask evangelical understanding of truth.47 that was well grounded philosophicalJy. He similar questions about an issue but the All this points toward new possibilities started with the classic theistic asser­ scholar of Christian perspective will find for developing a coherent philosophical tions that all truth is God's truth and guidance in principles that the atheist cannot framework upon which to base a Christian that the universe is rational and purposeful. consider. So when a Christian librarian and approach to librarianship. I am not the first From this basis, he went on to draw a a librarian of secular humanist perspective to make such attempts and much of what I numberofhelpful insights into Christian each arrive at the same conclusion offer here attempts to build upon their work. library service. Terhune made the about restricting access to pornographic Three who warrant special consideration for profound observation that the collection internet sites, they may do so based on the depth of their thought are Richard of the Christian library may be viewed very different principles. Waller, Stanford Terhune, and Gregory as symbolic representation of God's truth Lastly, Marsden points out "that there Smith.48 These three Christian librarians and its essential rationality.50 Such an are no set formulae for the Christian have each ventured well-reasoned philoso­ understanding has important implica­ perspective.'>14 This simply recognizes that phies of librarianship from a Christian tions both for the manner in which Christianity is a broad and diverse category. perspective. All three advocated an collections are organized and the Among evangelicals alone there are many informed theism as the best starting place criteria by which they are developed. flavors of belief, each of which brings its for a coherent philosophical base for Also, according to Terhune, the manner own distinct perspective. This is not to say Christian librarianship. However, much of of service provided by Christian librarians there are no normative Christian perspec­ what they say would be consonant with ought to be motivated by both high tives; rather, it is a humble admission that all a moderate form of realism that will more standards of professional competence and of our knowing is unavoidably perspectival. easily reach audiences outside the faith. the calling to servanthood common to all On this side of eternity we all "see through a Richard M. Waller's extended essay committeddisciples.51 While his comments glass dimly." Marsden seems to be entitled, ''Philosophy and the Librarian", on this point are all well taken I would partially accommodating a postmodern provided a useful analysis of several current extend them further by making an explicit conception of limited objectivity. philosophical systems and how their connection to the task of encouraging At this point, it may be helpful to make application to librarianship might operate. intel1ectual growth by the stretching of the certain distinctions between types of Of these, only humanism and theism met his mind. Our students will benefit from postmodemism. As with most other patterns six essential criteria for a viable encountering ideas that cause them to think of thought, it contains elements that both philosophy of librarianship: critically about their own presupposition. benefit and threaten Christian perspectives. -Some sort of assertion that there Lastly, the Christian librarian is In a recent essay the evangelical theologian, is such a thing as truth. obligated to follow high ethical principles in

The Chifs€])brarian, 4·1·(2) 200 I 59 52 the workplace. Here Terhune overstated though well intentioned, could be inter­ eight "enduring values" of librarianship. It is his case. I certainly agree that Christian preted as an abandonment of professional most interesting to discover that of all these librarians ought to be diligent in observing detachment that borders on a kind of Gorman cites stewardship as the only one applicable laws and conduct themselves by missionary advocacy.56 My previously unique to our profession. All the others are high moral standards. However, his stated words of caution apply here as well. shared to some degree with other profes­ proposal that Christian librarians adopt a At this point I will briefly outline what a sions and institutions. Librarians alone are stance toward the student or patron which coherent evangelical approach to the charged with the responsibility of preserv­ aggressively advocates personal moral philosophy of librarianship will look ing and transmitting the complete transcript understanding should be taken with due like. Admittedly, what is provided here of human knowledge. Gorman rightly calls caution. Such advocacy may run the risk of is sketchy. It is my hope that others this "our singular value." 57 I am convinced turning the librarian's educational task interested in these concepts will take up the that this paramount task gives the profession into nothing more than a form of task of developing them in a more complete its core meaning. It is also the reason why indoctrination. Even the evangelical fashion. First, an evangelical perspective of objectivity is so crucial to its work. The librarian should be careful not to librarianship will be rooted in a uniquely collections which librarians build, whether abandon a prudent detachment. Christian worldview. This ought to include they are made up of physical objects housed More recently, Gregory A. Smith some understanding of the knowability, in majestic halls or electronic representa­ has provided a finely crafted grounding objectivity, and communicability of truth. tions residing only in some indefinable of Christian librarianship. He affirmed Such a concept of truth may be formulated virtual space, exist as symbolic statements the following philosophical ground for around the classical theistic statement that of their institutions' ultimate values. The Christian librarianship by positioning "all truth is God's truth" or some other long intellectual traditions of realism, them within a more general philosophy moderate form of realism. It will also rationalism, democracy, and objectivity of Christian education that includes the include some recognition of the must continue to be foundational to library following elements: essential rationality of the uni verse. values. Without them librarians risk losing -The knowability of truth Second, evangelical librarianship, as a the meaning of their profession and the ·The objectivity of truth distinct discipline and part of the larger purpose of their institutions. That is what is -The unity of truth academy, ought to play by the accepted at stake for them in the questions of -The practicality of truth rules of the game. It ought to follow the knowledge and truth raised by · The spirituality of truth53 established practices of the liberal pragmatic postmodernism. By their training and His approach, like the others mentioned enterprise of which it is a part. This should association librarians possess the intellectual here, was theistic and provided a solid include a clear commitment to professional resources to make judgements that in a grounding in realism. However, he reflected detachment that is both honest about limited fashion approximate the objectivity a keen awareness of postmodemism and the impossibility of neutrality but of truth. Evangelical librarians must not offered some cautionary words about supports objectivity as an essential shy away from engaging the broader the limits of objectivity in a way similar methodological stance. In other words, audience of the profession with to Marsden. As Smith puts it, "while truth a certain degree of humility about the Christian perspectives on librarianship. itself is absolute, human interpretations veracity of truth claims is prudent 54 of it are subject to error." because all of our knowing is unavoid­ I Upon this theoretical base of theistic ably perspectival. The author would like to acknowledge the helpful suggestions made by his realism Smith sketched some implications Lastly, the evangelical librarian will colleague, John Jaeger, on early drafts of for various areas of librarianship. Like understand that a faith perspective this paper. It is much the better for his Terhune, his comments on collection makes a significant difference when careful reading. Of course, he is in no way development are the most helpful. He fundamental questions of meaning and responsible for those defects that remain. asserted that the Christian library collection purpose are at stake. The collection All uses of italics, capitalization, or other should be developed within a framework developed by an evangelical librarian will grammatical structures found within that all truth is God's truth. Such a stand as a symbolic representation of God's quotations are those of the original writer framework requires that the collection truth and the essential rationality of and not this author. 2 be sufficiently expansive to allow for things. The desire for professional See Don Fallis and Martin Fricke, "Not by Library School Alone," Library Journal 124 knowledge that is not particularly Chris­ competence coupled with the common (October 15, 1999): 44-45; "Not by Theory tian.55 Indeed, it might require the inclusion Christian calling to servanthood will Alone," Library Journal 125 (February 15, of material that some may consider anti­ motivate the evangelical librarian to 2000): 134-136; and John Beny, "Library Christian, if it contains elements of truth or high levels of excellence. Education Series, Part 2: Students Sound Off content essential to the library's educational About Their Schools," Library Journal 124 task. Also, his comments on reference CONCLUSION (November 1, 1999): 46-48. See also "Congress service and bibliographic instruction, Earlier in this paper, I listed Gorman's on Professional Education: Focus on Education

60 T he Chip€} Jbibrarian, 44(2) 2001 for the First Professional Degree," April 30-May 62 (October 1992): 408-424. Issues in Library History," in Wayne A. Wiegand I , 1999, American Library Association; 19 Jim Zwadlo, 'We Don't Need a Philosophy and Donald G. Davis, eds., Encyclopedia of available from http://www.ala.org/congress/ of Library and Information Science-We're Library History (New York: Garland, 1994), pp. 3 See "American Library Association Core Confused Enough Already," Library Quarterly 580-582; See also Harris, History ofLibraries in Values Task Force," American Library 67 (1997): pp.117-119. See also Gary P. the Western World, pp. 224-232. Association; available from http://www.ala.org/ Radford and John M. Budd, 'We Do Need a 35 Harris, HistOI)' ofLibraries in the Western congress/corevalues/; Internet; and Michael Philosophy of Library and Information World, pp. 202-205,224-231. Gorman, "Values of Steel in 30 Days," Science-We're Not Confused Enough: A 36 See George M. Marsden, The Outrageous American Libraries 31 (April 2000): 39. Response to Zwadlo," Library Quarterly 67 Idea ofChristian Scholarship (New York: 4 Thomas S. Kuhn, "Objectivity, Value (1997). Oxford, 1997), pp. 25-31. Judgements, and Theory Choice," in Thomas S. 20 Ibid., p. 119. 37 S. R. Ranganathan, Five Laws ofLibrary Kuhn, The Essential Tension: Selected Studies 21 Joyce Appleby, Lynn Hunt, and Margaret Science (London: Edward Goldston, 193 1); For in Scientific Tradition and Change (Chicago: Jacob, Telling the Truth About History (New a brief analysis ofRanganathan's laws see A. K. University of Chicago, 1977), p. 320. The York: W W Norton, 1994), pp. 254-70. Mukherjee, Librarianship: Its Philosophy and classic statement of Kuhn's is found in Thomas 22 Thomas L. Haskell, Objectivity is not History (New York :Asia Publishing House, S. Kuhn, The Structure ofScientific Revolutions Neutrality: Explanatory Themes in History 1966), pp.31-40. (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1962). (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, 1998), pp. 148-151. 38 George M. Marsden, "What Difference 5 Ibid., p. 322. 23 Ibid., pp. 203-204. Might Christian Perspectives Make?" in 6 Ibid., pp. 322-325. 24 Ibid., pp.9-12. For a fuller explanation of Ronald A. Wells, ed. History and the 7 Ibid., p. 325. Haskell's approach see the last section ofhi s Christian Historian (Grad Rapids: 8 For the text of this document see the ALA book and especially chapter 10. Eerdmans, 1998), pp. 12-13. webpage ''Library Bill of Rights," American 25 Michael Gorman, Our Enduring Values 39 Marsden, The Outrageous Idea ofChristian Library Association; available from http:// (American Library Assoc., 2000), pp. 26-27. Scholarship, chap. 3. www.ala.org/work/freedom/lbr.html; Internet. 26 Ann K. Symons and Carla J. Stoffle, "When 40 Ibid., chap. 2. 9 "Intellectual Freedom Principles for Values Conflict," American Libraries 29 (May 41 Mark Noll, "History Wars IV: A Peace of Academic Libraries," American Library 1998): 56-58. God?" Books and Culture 5 (November/ Association; available from http:// 27 Gorman, Our Enduring Values, p. 18. December 1999), pp. 42-44. www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/ifprinciples 28 The standard work on the origins of the 42 Marsden, 'What Difference Might Christian academiclibraries.html; Internet. public library in the U.S. is Jesse H. Shera, Perspectives Make?" p. 13. 10 Many of these documents can be found Foundations ofthe American Public Library 43 Ibid., p. 14. online by consulting "Office of Intellectual (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1949). A 44 Ibid. Freedom," American Library Association; useful and more comprehensive work is 45 Ibid. available from http://www.ala.org/alaorg/ Michael H. Harris, History ofLibraries in the 46 Millard J. Erickson, 'Toe Postmodern oif/; Internet. Westem World (Metuchen, NJ.: Scarecrow, Challenge: The Christian Mind and Heart in a 11 David J. Foskett, The Creed ofa Librarian : 1984). For the historical development of the Postmodern Age," in David S. Dockery and No Religion, No Politics, No Morals (London: academic library see the similar but complemen­ David P. Gushee, eds., The Future ofChristian Library Assoc., 1962) tary works of Arthur Hamlin, The University Higher Education (Nashville: Broadman iz According to Shera it was Margaret E. Library in the United States: Its Origin and and Holman, 1999), p. 98 Egan, an associate at the University of Chicago, Development (Philadelphia: University of 47 Ibid. who coined this phrase which became a major Pennsylvania, 1981) and Orvin Lee Shiflett, 48 See Richard M. Waller, Philosophy and the focus of his work. Origins ofAmerican Academic Librarianship Librarian (Wales: College of Librarianship, 13 Jesse H. Shera, Libraries and the Organiza­ (Norwood, N.J.:Ablex, 1981). An indispensable 1977); Stanford Terhune, 'Toe Impact of the tion of Knowledge (Hamden, Conn.: Archon reference is Wayne A Wiegand and Donald G. Christian Faith on Library Service," The Books, 1965), pp. 5-7 Davis, eds., Encyclopedia ofLibrary History Christian Librarian 26 (November 1982): 4-10, 14 Ibid., pp. 15-16. (New York: Garland, 1994). 14; and Gregory A. Smith, " A Philosophy of 15 Ibid. , pp. 211-212. 29 0. Lee Shiflett, "Academic Libraries," in Christian Librarianship," The Christian 16 Ibid., p. 6. Wayne A. Wiegand and Donald G. Davis, eds., Librarian 43 (April 2000): 46-51, 58-59. 17 Jorge F. Sosa and Michael H. Harris, "Jose Encyclopedia ofLibrary History (New York: 49 Waller, Philosophy and the Librarian, 17. Ortega y Gasset and the Role of the Librarian in Garland, 1994), pp. 8-9. For a fuller treatment of 50 Ibid., pp.32-34. Post-Industrial America," Libri 41 (1991): p. 15. the classical college see chap. 1 of Shiflett, 51 Terhune, 'Toe Impact of the Christian Faith 18 See John M. Budd, "An Epistemological Origins ofAmerican Academic Librarianship. on Library Service," pp.5-6 Foundation for Library and Information 30 Louis Shores, "A Philosophy of 52 Ibid., pp. 8-9 Science," Library Quarterly 65 (July 1995): Librarianship," in Barbara McCrimmon, comp., 53 Ibid., p. 10. 296-318; Archie L. Dick, "Library and American library Philosophy: An Anthology 54 Smith, "A Philosophy of Christian Information Science as a Social Science: Neutral (Hamden: Shoe String Press, 1975), p. 212. Librarianship," pp. 49-50. and Normative Conceptions," Library Quarterly 3 1 Ibid., p. 215. 55 Ibid., p. 49. 65 (April 1995): 216-235; and Gary P. Radford, 32 Ibid. 56 Ibid., p. 50. "Positivism, Foucault, and the Fantasia of the 33 Lee W. Finks, "Values Without Shame," 57 Ibid., p. 51. Library: Conceptions of Knowledge and the American Libraries 20 (April 1989), p. 353. 58 Gorman, Our Enduring Values, pp. Modem Library Experience," Library Quarterly 34 Hector J. Maymi-Sugranes, "Social Class 173-174. *

The Chifsl@i)bibrarian, 44(2) 2001 6 1