Librarians and Human Rights: A Seminar

The aim of the Seminar, Librarians and Human Rights, is to present a historical and cultural analysis of the role of librarians vis-à-vis human rights as defined by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The course will highlight the stated goals of the profession and the work librarians must do to achieve a more equitable society in the United States to act as a more compassionate nation among others.
The Amnesty International 2005 report on Human Rights notes:

Despite the near-universal outrage generated by the photographs coming out of Abu Ghraib, and the evidence suggesting that such practices are being applied to other prisoners held by the USA in Afghanistan, Guantánamo and elsewhere, neither the US administration nor the US Congress has called for a full and independent investigation.

Amidst such times it is crucial that librarians provide access to collections, programs and materials that open the public sphere. The Seminar, Librarians and Human Rights, will provide a theoretical, historical, and philosophical introduction to the universal responsibility of librarians to advocate for human rights.
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Spring term, 2006.
University of South Florida,School of Library and Information Science.
Instructor: Kathleen de la Peña McCook.