A global perspective on library association codes of ethics

Abstract

This study of 28 countries involves comparative content analysis of the English versions of codes of ethics proposed by professional associations. It yielded an empirically grounded typology of principles arranged in twenty categories. The most frequently identified principles were professional development, integrity, confidentiality or privacy, and free and equal access to information. While confidentiality and privacy, and equal access to information, appear in all existing typologies of library and information science ethics, other principles, such as copyright and intellectual property, democracy, and responsibility toward society, which appear in almost all other typologies, were evident in fewer than half of the codes. This empirical study provides a global perspective on library association code of ethics.

E-Quality and E-Service Equality

“…When Dole and Hurych [12] asked library science students at one university to rank the three most important values of the profession, 89% of students included "service to clientele" and 32% included "equitable access" in this top tier. Free and equal access is a core ethical principle that is found in all library ethical values typologies [e.g., 16,22,18,25,33,34,37]. Shachaf [34] found that equal access was one of the few core values of the library profession that was shared across 23 countries around the globe.…”

“…Free and equal access is a core ethical principle that is found in all library ethical values typologies [e.g., 16,22,18,25,33,34,37]. Shachaf [34] found that equal access was one of the few core values of the library profession that was shared across 23 countries around the globe.…”

For Your Enrichment: Ethical Issues in Reference: An In-Depth View from the Librarians’ Perspective

“…Shachaf conducted a comparative content analysis of the codes of ethics proposed by professional associations in twenty-eight countries and found that professionalism, integrity, confidentiality/privacy, and free and equal access to information were the most frequently noted principles. 6 She explained that there were three key types of codes: aspirational, regulatory, and educational. 7 Barsh and Lisewski believe that the ALA Code is primarily aspirational as it does not regulate or provide concrete guidance on implementing systems of procedures for dealing with ethical dilemmas.…”

Four Facets of Privacy and Intellectual Freedom in Licensing Contracts for Electronic Journals

“…Specifically, she determined that 85 percent of the codes of ethics in her study contain privacy protection. 16 The ALA and other professional organizations justify privacy protections by appealing to intellectual freedom. 17 In the ALA's words, intellectual freedom requires that one have the ability to "seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction" and "true freedom of inquiry" does not exist where "users recognize or fear that their privacy or confidentiality is compromised."…”