“Understand global perspectives on effective information practices that are supportive of cultural, economic, educational, or social well-being.”
Introduction
As an information professional, my goal is to use modern technology to help people access accurate, relevant information to help them better understand the world. Today’s technology allows people from all over the world to access information, so keeping a global perspective is vital. We need to consider that anyone from any part of the world may access content that we publish, and when materials specifically contain content about different cultures and languages, we need to make those materials accessible to those different cultures and languages. Rowan and Gonzalez (2022) describe a manuscript collection with materials all written in Spanish, but the finding aids were all in English. The finding aids had to be translated into Spanish to provide greater accessibility. We must consider the languages of materials as well as the languages of our users when determining how to make them accessible.
Albright (2022) mentions some of the challenges that countries outside the United States face in providing access to information. These can include barriers to accessing technology or people lacking skills or awareness about the advantages of new technologies to access information. Albright also mentions that information professionals in some countries must deal with government regulations that restrict or prohibit access to certain information materials. This can be a difficult situation to deal with. We may not agree with the restrictions, but we also may want to work together with people in such situations and provide access to what information we can. Jimerson (2009) discusses the damage that government censorship can do and the need for information professionals to fight such oppressions, but Greene (2013) points out that going too far in the direction of “social justice” will make some groups lose trust in our institutions. Keeping a global perspective means being willing to recognize that some groups have different needs than others, and although universal standards work for some situations, others require customization.
The Universal Declaration on Archives published by the International Council on Archives (ICA, 2011) describes the need for archives to protect the rights of citizens and the need for laws that protect the public memory. With this in mind, archivists should be good citizens in their own countries, respecting the law but also doing their best to push for laws that better fit with archival ethics.
A global perspective means we need to be considerate of different cultural and religious beliefs as well. Dr. Kimberly Christen (OCLC, 2017) discusses how some indigenous Australian cultures have different ways of dealing with cultural knowledge than Western cultures do, and how information management systems can be built with customized features to handle information in a way that is acceptable to their culture. Many religious traditions have things that are considered sacred and should not be discussed or shown in certain contexts, and even though we may not share their beliefs, we need to be aware of them and be respectful of them, whether it be images of the prophet Mohammed, religious clothing or rituals, post-mortem photographs, or anything that a culture considers sacred. This could mean limiting access to a collection, including disclaimers explaining the sensitivity of an item, or other procedures depending on the needs of the information institution and the culture represented by the artifacts.
Evidence Items
Evidence Item 1: Discussion on an Accomplishment Related to Genealogy, Languages, and Cultures
My first item of evidence is a discussion post I wrote for the course INFO 281: Cultural Competence for Information Professionals. In it, I describe my experience doing genealogical research with records written in different languages. This shows my experience working with records and finding aids in different languages, and my understanding of the complexity of language and cultural barriers and how they affect people in the present and the past.
It also describes how my fascination with languages and my understanding of the history of immigration and records creation motivates me to understand and empathize with people of various backgrounds in modern society. The study of genealogy changes your perspective of the past and present. History is not just dates and large events, but billions of individual people and their families, interacting with each other, reacting to significant events in their lives, and trying to live the best they can while still holding on to their values. The present is the same. Everyone is trying to live the best way they know how, and with respect and humility we can learn to coexist with each other.
Evidence Item 2: Case Study: American Working for a Chinese Company
This item is another discussion post I wrote for the course INFO 281: Cultural Competence for Information Professionals. In it, I analyze a scenario in which an American is employed by a Chinese company, the types of cultural misunderstandings that could result, and how they could be prevented. This shows my understanding of different behavioral preferences in different cultures and my ability to apply that understanding to interpersonal communication situations. It also shows that I recognize the importance of respecting different cultural values even if your own values do not change.
Evidence Item 3: Leadership and Humility in Intercultural Contexts
My third piece of evidence is also a discussion post I wrote for the course INFO 281: Cultural Competence for Information Professionals. It is a discussion of what I admire about actor LeVar Burton’s example and teachings on leadership. Burton has discussed a need for humility and integrity when in a leadership position, and a need to be willing to bend when needed. He asks, “Do you want to be right, or do you want to be free of conflict?” This essay shows my understanding of the need for humility in intercultural situations, and that I understand it is possible to stick to one’s own values while still being flexible and accommodating the values of others.
Evidence Item 4: Decolonization of Archives and Genealogies Blog Post
My last item of evidence is a blog post I wrote for INFO 200: Information Communities. It describes the ways that indigenous cultures around the world have been hurt by the way dominant cultures interpret history and manage historical artifacts without regard for the cultural traditions of others. It includes topics like forced assimilation, stealing of body parts for use in museums without permission from the relatives of the deceased, and dismissing oral histories as myths and superstitions with no regard for the feelings of those who believe in them. This essay demonstrates my recognition of the past damage done to indigenous cultures and the need for restitution and understanding to help heal the wounds of the past and coexist peacefully in our modern world.
Conclusion
Although I plan to work in the United States, I will likely encounter people from different nations and cultures in my work. The information materials I work with will also likely represent various nations and cultures. I want to be sensitive to the cultural values and needs of others and contribute to the peaceful coexistence of our various societies, and the preservation of our public memory. Some ways I will stay up to date on the needs and perspectives of other cultures are:
- Periodically checking global news sources such as Deutsche Welle and Al Jazeera rather than just following US news.
- Subscribing to publications from international information organizations, such as the International Council on Archives, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, and the International Association of University Libraries.
References
Albright, K. (2022). Leadership skills for today’s global information landscape. In Hirsch, S. (Ed.) Information services today: An introduction (3rd ed., pp. 501-512). Roman & Littlefield.
Greene, M. A. (2013). A critique of social justice as an archival imperative: What is it we’re doing that’s all that important? The American Archivist, 76(2), 302–334. https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.76.2.14744l214663kw43
International Council on Archives (ICA). (2011, November 10). The Universal Declaration on Archives. Retrieved September 15, 2025, from https://www.ica.org/resource/universal-declaration-on-archives-uda/
Jimerson, R. C. (2009). Archives power: Memory, accountability, and social justice. The Society of American Archivists.
OCLC. (2017, July 21). We have never been neutral: Search, discovery and the politics of access [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMd6-IS3cmU&t=3s
Rowan, K., & Gonzalez, A. (2022, June 13). Decolonizing your library: Metadata that empowers. Annual IATUL Conference. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/iatul/2022/ttl/1/