A Kantian justification for library patron privacy protections

Purpose The purpose of this study is to frame the value of library patron privacy in terms of Kantian ethics, providing a justification of why patron privacy should be protected that may be persuasive beyond the library community, particularly in a United States policy context. Design/methodology/approach This study employs ethical reasoning, applying an ethical framework to specific cases. Findings This study finds that Kantian ethics provides compelling reasons why patron privacy should be protected, especially that the Formula of Humanity requires that patrons provide meaningful consent for the use of their information, and that Kant's conception of innate right justifies the library community in advocating for public policies that protect patron privacy. Originality/value While the discourse of professional ethics in library and information science often acknowledges Kantian ethics in a general way, studies that apply the framework to specific cases are rare. This is the first study that uses Kantian ethics to provide justification for patron privacy protections.