Librarians’ Statement on the 2016 Presidential Election

photo of laptop and research

To Our Students, Faculty, and Staff:

The librarians and staff of the William H. Hannon Library would like to welcome everyone back and to wish you all a Happy New Year. We begin this semester on the heels of a contentious election season marked by “fake news,” “filter bubbles,” and accusations of media bias. As information professionals, we find ourselves on the forefront of these issues.

To our LMU community, we would like to reaffirm our commitment to long-standing library traditions and values, which include the promotion of intellectual freedom, the protection of information from loss or erasure, and the mindful and critical use of information. It is our responsibility as librarians and archivists to help LMU students navigate the current information landscape, which we do through information literacy instruction, research guidance, transformative programming and exhibitions, and providing access to diverse information resources.

Over the past few months, we have become increasingly concerned about the prevalence of misleading information, the polarization of information resources, and how rapidly-changing communication technologies have impacted the formation of well-informed, civic dialogue. However, as professionals dedicated to the encouragement of lifelong-learning and information literacy, guided by our mission as LMU librarians and staff, we maintain our pledge:

  • to exemplify the principles of the Jesuit and Marymount traditions in promoting critical inquiry and reflection
  • to serve as a central marketplace for intellectual and creative discovery
  • to provide a portal to rich collections in a variety of formats and representing diverse topics and perspectives

The library is a space for scholarly pursuits as well as community engagement and open dialogue. While we see this as a challenging time, we also recognize the many opportunities it affords us to explore the complex world of information creation, dissemination, and consumption. It is our hope that you will join us in this exploration by sharing your ideas, concerns, and questions. As always, we are proud to serve the LMU community and we look forward to supporting and collaborating with you this semester.

The Librarians of the William H. Hannon Library

 

Throughout the semester, we will be sharing resources and tools for understanding the relationship between the information literacy and civic discourse. Please follow us on LMU Library News, Twitter, and Facebook for more information.