Michael Gorman (born 6 March 1941) is a British-born librarian, library scholar and writer. During his tenure as president of the American Library Association (ALA), he was vocal in his opinions on a range of subjects, notably technology and education. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife, Anne Reuland, an academic administrator at Loyola University.

Gorman's principles of librarianship derive from core liberal, democratic and humanist values, and he is noted for his traditional views. A key influence is S.R. Ranganathan, whom he regarded as "the greatest figure of librarianship in the 20th century."Gorman, M. (2000). "Our Enduring Values: Librarianship in the 21st Century". p18 ALA Editions. He maintains that it is through focusing on core professional values that librarians will facilitate personal growth and enhance the success of their institutions.Bridges, K. (2003), Expectations of librarians in the 21st century. p106 London: Greenwood press

Life and career Gorman was born on 6 March 1941, in Freeland House just outside the village of Freeland near Witney, Oxfordshire. He grew up in London, England and became interested in libraries in part through his experiences at Hendon library and particularly its Children's Library run by a pioneer in the field Eileen Colwell. He attended Ealing Technical College (now University of West London) in London from 1964 to 1966. 1966 to 1977 – Head of Cataloguing at the British National Bibliography, a member of the British Library Planning Secretariat, and Head of the Office of Bibliographic Standards in the British Library. 1977 to 1988 – Director of Technical Services, Director of General Services, and Acting University Librarian at Library of the University of Illinois 1988 to 2007 – Dean of Library Services at the Henry Madden Library, California State University, Fresno, retiring in 2007. 1999 to 2000 – President of the Library and Information Technology Association.American Library Association, , "LITA Presidents", 2014 2005 to 2006 – President of the American Library Association (ALA).Gorman, Michael. 2005. "What’s It All About? Beyond Equity of Access." American Libraries 36 (10): 5.

He has also taught at library schools in Britain and in the United States, most recently at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies.

Gorman's ideas Gorman bases his principles of librarianship on core liberal, democratic and humanistic values. Underlying Gorman's defense of his values of librarianship is an apprehension regarding the future of the profession.Moran, G. (June 2001). Ethics, strengths and values, Journal of librarianship and information science, vol.33 no.2 p99)

Eight central values of librarianship In Our Enduring Values,Gorman, M. (2000). "Our Enduring Values: Librarianship in the 21st Century". ALA Editions. Gorman identified eight central values of librarianship :

Stewardship : Gorman argues that librarians have a key role to play in preserving the human record for future generations. He maintains that librarians must pass on their best values to future information professionals. Service : According to Gorman, an ethic of service should permeate all library policies and practices. Gorman stresses the duty of librarians to serve individuals, communities and societies is best fulfilled through a combination of professional skills, empathy and personal dedication. He argues that librarians need to act idealistically in a materialistic age. Intellectual Freedom : Librarians lead the fight for intellectual freedom. Librarians, Gorman maintains, must zealously fight to protect free expression of thought, even if the ideas concerned contradict the librarian's own personal convictions.Gorman, M. (1997), Our singular strengths: meditations for librarians, p23 Washington: ALA, Privacy : The freedom to access whatever materials an individual wishes, without the knowledge or interference of others.Gorman, M. (1997), Our singular strengths: meditations for librarians, p24 Washington: ALA, Gorman insists that confidentiality is a "bond of trust" between libraries and their patrons. Rationalism : Gorman argues that libraries are "children of the Enlightenment and of rationalism"Gorman, M. (2000). "Our Enduring Values: Librarianship in the 21st Century". p103 ALA Editions. and that librarianship is a "supremely rational profession". This principle should underpin library procedures, and encourage the logical organization and classification of stock. Commitment to literacy and learning : Reading is of central importance to literacy and lifelong learning. Gorman formulates a broad definition of 'literacy' beyond the mere ability to read, write and surf the net: his concept encompasses comprehensive, 'true' reading which is fulfilling and expands the mind.Gorman, M (2003). "The enduring library: technology, tradition and the quest for balance". p41 Washington: ALA, Equity of access : Gorman argues that the 'digital divide' is but one manifestation of societal inequality and that all library services, in particular reference services, have a role to play in bridging the gap and providing equity of access. Democracy : Gorman describes libraries as "supremely democratic institutions". Because democracy, he insists, depends on a "well-informed electorate" the library is integral to promoting education and maintaining democracy. If people are to exercise good judgement in electing representatives, they need to be highly informed and have access to written records: the library plays a central role therefore in maintaining democracy.

These Eight Values have been heavily influenced by the Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path.

Critique of his values Gorman's selection and defence of his eight central values has attracted some criticism: for example, his championing of 'stewardship' as a central ethical tenet unique to librarianship, which cannot be shared by other information professionals, has been attacked as "too narrow and exclusive".Moran, G. (June 2001). Ethics, strengths and values, Journal of librarianship and information science, vol.33 no.2 p99 His impassioned defence of intellectual freedom has also been dismissed in some quarters as "empty rhetoric" and "hyperbole". Gorman's views have also been dismissed by some as seemingly contradictory: on the one hand he praises Ranganathan's core values of library science;Gorman, M. (1997), Our singular strengths: meditations for librarians, p39/55 Washington: ALA, on the other he claims "information science" is a "bogus discipline".Gorman, M. (2000). "Our Enduring Values: Librarianship in the 21st Century". p69 ALA Editions. After a careful reading of Gorman's use of the phrase "bogus discipline," one can see that his beliefs are not in contradiction to Ranganathan, however, as he is supplying a critique of library science schools in what he views as a departure from the core values that should be taught.

Five New Laws of Librarianship Gorman has expanded and added a more contemporary focus to Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science.Crawford, W. and Gorman, M. (1995). "Future Libraries: Dreams, Madness and Reality". ALA Editions. The re-working of the classic five laws is an attempt "to meet the challenges of fast paced social and cultural changes affecting library users and the rapid proliferation of technology in library operations". The five laws are: Libraries serve humanity : This law encompasses the assistance of individuals and the lofty ideal of the "furtherance of the higher aspirations of mankind". This law also implies an altruistic desire to provide quality service and to exceed the expectations of all users. Respect all forms by which knowledge is communicated : Gorman advocates the use of various forms of "carriers of knowledge and information". He recommends a utilitarian approach – using whatever is more effective, cost effective, or advantageous. Use technology intelligently to enhance service : Librarians, Gorman argues, must welcome and integrate new technologies. Yet he is clear that print-on-paper will remain the "pre-eminent medium for the communication of cumulative knowledge" Technology must be used to solve problems and improve services, and achieve cost-effectiveness, rather than adopted for its own sake. Protect free access to knowledge : Allowing the records of the past to disappear is, from Gorman's perspective, "a kind of censorship". It is the librarian's responsibility to ensure intellectual freedom because Gorman asserts, a "society without uncensored libraries is a society open to tyranny". Honor the past and create the future : Gorman advocates the need to balance nostalgia for a pre-digital past with the need to embrace new technologies, in a selective way based upon the extent to which they will enhance library service. He points to a need to respect the accomplishments of predecessors in the field of information science, whilst celebrating new developments in the field of librarianship.

Educating the librarian As part of his platform when running for ALA President in 2006, Gorman pledged to address what he called the education crisis.Goodes, P. A. (August 2004)."Gorman Focus: Education, Recruitment". "American Libraries". 35 (7).

The article "Whither Library Education?" set out his views on the current state of LIS education. He concluded that LIS education had become technocentric, male-dominated and out of touch with the needs of practitioners. This view was critiqued by Dillon and Norris,Dillon, A., et al., Crying Wolf: An Examination and Reconsideration of the Perception of Crisis in LIS Education. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science v. 46 no. 4 p280-98 while both papers were critiqued by PawleyPawley, C. (2005) Gorman's Gauntlet: Gender and Crying Wolf (In reply to Crying Wolf: An Examination and Reconsideration of the Perception of Crisis in LIS Education by A. Dillon and A. Norris). Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 46/4, p304-11 for their treatment of the issue of gender in librarianship.

Library and Information Science academics also responded in the professional press, questioning whether there was a crisis to address.

During his year in office, Gorman introduced an initiative intended to discuss the issue of education. Sessions were held with practitioners and academics. However, Gorman's traditional views may have led to younger librarians turning away from the idea and their views not being represented: "Whatever the case, after all that effort we still don't know what current students and recent graduates really think about the educations upon which they spend so much money".Berry, J. N. Can ALA Bring Change?. (September 15 2006) Library Journal. 131/15 p10

Despite the initiative, accreditation and curricula remained unchanged at the end of Gorman's tenure.

Perspectives Gorman's views on the Internet, digitisation of books, Google, citizen journalism, and information science are widely discussed. Two publications in particular caused heated debate, particularly within the librarian blogging community: the 2004 article "Google and God's Mind", originally printed in the Los Angeles Times the 2005 response article "Revenge of the Blog People!", originally printed in Library Journal.

Digitisation