The Social Nature of Information

This article shows how a philosophical analysis of the moral value of information can help librarians rethink some aspects of their professional values, especially their commitment to neutrality. A historical discussion of the "fiction problem" shows how changes in collection practices partly account for the current emphasis on neutrality. This historical example shows the importance of using an analysis of the moral value of information as a guide to future changes in professional mission, especially those that result from new technologies. We argue that information is indirectly but crucially important to a person becoming a morally autonomous individual and to a community's ability to self-govern. The social nature of information has direct consequences for the professional mission of librarians.