Social media ethical issues: role of a librarian

Abstract

Purpose

The massive proliferation of social media has become extremely popular among information users. They have greatly influenced the way users access and use information in all aspects of their lives, thus becoming a global phenomenon for constant debates. The various social media sites have created an information explosion with access to information becoming more liberalized than ever before. To avert an ethical crisis, there is an urgent need for libraries to reorient their goals, objectives, strategies and policies to identify these ethical loopholes and seal them for the benefit of their users, before it is too late. This paper seeks to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses critical appraisal of social media to establish the role of the librarian and the future of social media in libraries.

Findings

While social media ethical concerns with access to information cannot be wished way, preliminary investigation shows that little has been researched on the topic in Kenya.

Originality/value

This paper therefore critically looks at the opportunities provided by social media, major potential risks and the mechanisms for their management in terms of policy formulation, role of the librarian and the future of social media in libraries.

Citation

Wasike, J. (2013), "Social media ethical issues: role of a librarian", Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 30 No. 1, pp. 8-16. https://doi.org/10.1108/07419051311320922