Realist, Non-Naturalist Ethics and Librarianship

The fundamental premise of this paper is that the work of information professionals relies upon, and is an extension of, memory. Memory is an essential element in shaping consciousness, so it is likewise essential to information work. The place the past occupies is a complex one, as will be demonstrated in the presentation. The past cannot simply be categorized as history, since “history” depends on agency beyond the individual information professional. Models offered by Bergson and Wilson will bring the complexity to the fore and will illustrate how information professionals rely on memory for the most fundamental aspects of information work.