On the Ethics of Working with Library Technology: The Case of the Open Journal Matcher

Abstract

Through the methodological lens of a case study, this practical communication aims to capture and analyze one aspect of the multi-faceted ethical concerns that arise with building with technology in libraries. I define and deploy the concept of “pervious” technology (the opposite of impervious technology) as a way to think through how librarians work with technologies in their workplaces. I describe how pervious technologies are readily manipulable tools that librarians can reach into (metaphorically, hence “pervious”), giving them a greater say in how they engage with their library work. Specifically, I examine the ethical implications of pervious and impervious technologies in library workplaces by analyzing a specific, librarian-built application, named the Open Journal Matcher.