Professional Ethics Ethics for Library and Information

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Professional Ethics

• Ethics for Library and Information Professionals
• Kay Mathiesen
• SIRLS
• University of Arizona

2
What is a Profession?

• An occupation that regulates the activities of
  its members by
• requiring specialized training
• requiring some sort of certification
• having professional organization
• having a code of ethics
• The traditional professions (the church,
  military, medicine, and law) were those that
  served an important social function.

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Ethics, Morals, Values

• Ethics (also called Moral Theory)
• (a) Branch of philosophy concerned with the
  evaluation of human conduct. (FOLDOP,
  http//www.swif.it/foldop/)
• (b) The study of the nature of obligation and the
  good.
• ethics (also called morals or values)--the
  conception of the good and particular obligations
  that guide the behavior of a person or group.
• A good ethics should be based on a sound
  understanding of Ethics.

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Basics of Professional Ethics

• Spinellos Normative Principles can serve as a
  statement of some core principles of professional
  ethics.
• Non-malificence (literally non-harm) Do not
  use your professional skills to do wrong. For
  example, do not use your public role for private
  benefit.
• Autonomy (literally self-rule) Respect the
  autonomy of those you serve. Let them make
  fundamental decisions that effect their own
  lives.
• Informed Consent Completely inform and gain
  consent of those you serve before taking actions
  that affect them.

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Bayles List of Professional Obligations

• Michael Bayles lists the following professional
  obligations in Professional Ethics.
• Honesty
• Competence
• Diligence
• Loyalty
• Fairness
• Discretion
• He includes as well,
• Obligation of Obedience (within bounds of
  legality and ethics)

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Codes of Ethics

• All professions have a code of ethics, which
  expresses their particular professional
  obligations as viewed by members of the
  profession.
• Some professions have enforcement mechanisms (ALA
  does not).

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ALA Code of Ethics

• 1. We provide the highest level of service to all
  library users through appropriate and usefully
  organized resources equitable service policies
  equitable access and accurate, unbiased, and
  courteous responses to all requests
• 2. We uphold the principles of intellectual
  freedom and resist all efforts to censor library
  resources.

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ALA Code of Ethics

• 3. We protect each library user's right to
  privacy and confidentiality with respect to
  information sought or received and resources
  consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.
• 4. We recognize and respect intellectual property
  rights.

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ALA Code of Ethics

• 5. We treat co-workers and other colleagues with
  respect, fairness and good faith, and advocate
  conditions of employment that safeguard the
  rights and welfare of all employees of our
  institutions.
• 6. We do not advance private interests at the
  expense of library users, colleagues, or our
  employing institutions.

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ALA Code of Ethics

• 7. We distinguish between our personal
  convictions and professional duties and do not
  allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair
  representation of the aims of our institutions or
  the provision of access to their information
  resources.
• 8. We strive for excellence in the profession by
  maintaining and enhancing our own knowledge and
  skills, by encouraging the professional
  development of co-workers, and by fostering the
  aspirations of potential members of the
  profession.

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What should be the Mission of the LIP?

• Ortega y Gassett and Wengert both propose
  missions for the LIP that differs in some
  significant ways from the ALA vision.
• What are their proposals?
• What reasons do they offer in support?
• What do you think of their proposals?