1. Ethics Considerations for Information Professionals
LIS510

2. What is ethics?
"Ethics is a guide for our morality when we face complicated situations that eclipse the level of our prior moral experience." (Richard W. Severson (1997). The Principles of Information Ethics. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.
"Ethics is mostly about how people should be treated and how one should act, if one wishes to act rightly." (Rubin, p. 266)

3. What is ethics?
Ethics is the field of study that is concerned with questions of value
Ethical judgments are concerned with distinguishing “good” or “bad” behavior in a given situation
Ethics include the standards, values, morals, principles, etc., that we use as the basis for our decisions or actions
In ethical decision making, there is often no clear “right” or "wrong” answer

4. What is ethics?
Ethics refers to well based standards of right and wrong that prescribe what we ought to do
This is usually expressed in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues
It refers to those standards that impose reasonable obligations to refrain from rape, stealing, murder, fraud
It includes those relating to rights (to life, to freedom from injury, to privacy)
These are adequate ethical standards because they are supported by consistent and well founded reasons

5. What is ethics?
Ethics also refers to the study and development of one's ethical standards
Feelings, laws, and social norms can deviate from what is ethical
It is necessary to constantly examine one's standards to ensure that they are reasonable and well-founded
Ethics means a continuous effort of studying our own moral beliefs and our moral conduct
Through the application of ethics, we strive to ensure that we, and the institutions we help to shape, live up to standards that are reasonable and solidly-based

7. Importance of Ethics Ethics provide a framework for
Conducting essential information functions
Instituting information policies
Developing strategies for information services
Ethical conduct of information professionals is
Affirmation of the critical value of services
Affirmation of responsibility to themselves and society
Affirmation of respect for others
Affirmation of the need to improve society

8. Need for Discussing Ethical Issues
Librarianship is a service-oriented profession
Library user is the most important stakeholder

9. Historical Ethical Orientations in Librarianship
The First Period (before 1930)
Focusing on responsibilities to library collections
The Second Period ( )
Focusing on human aspects of library services, e.g. staff and patrons
The Third Period (since 1960)
Focusing on the broader information needs of society as a whole

10. Growing Interest in Professional Ethics
Journal of Information Ethics
More people aware of their ethical obligations in the workplace

11. Three Basic Elements in Professional Ethics
Self: the moral agent who acts or suffers the consequences of others’ actions
Organization: the institution acting in an autonomous manner
Environment: the standards of the community/professional societies

12. Ethics in Library and Information Science with Two Focuses
Information ethics: Use and misuse of information
Ownership of information
Intellectual property rights
Free or restricted access to information
Use of government information
Assurance of privacy and confidentiality
Data integrity
International flow of information
Professional ethics: profession conduct/behavior
How information professionals apply ethical principles to decisions and actions
Are closely related to information ethics and often overlap with it

13. Four Factors in Ethical Deliberations that are Important to Librarians
Social Utility
Survival
Social responsibility
Respect for the individual

14. Four Questions for Libraries Involved in Ethical Deliberations
To what extent is the survival of the organization threatened?
To what extent will the purpose of the organization be benefited or harmed?
To what extent is the organization or employee socially responsible or irresponsible when acting in a particular manner?
To what extent are the actions of the organization or individuals acting in its behalf harming or benefiting other individuals, organizations, or the profession?

15. Categories of Ethical Concern
Free access to information/effects of information
Selection decisions
Privacy
Copyright
Information organization
Information policy
Information quality

16. Categories of Ethical Concern
Administrative issues
Ethical issues of consultants
Ethical obligations to those doing business with the library
Ethical aspects regarding the treatment of personnel
Violation of privacy
Misuse of authority
Organizational inadequacies
Archival issues

17. Professional Considerations in Ethical Deliberations
ALA Code of Ethics
Access issues
Rights of authors and creators
Employment issues
ASIST Professional Guidelines

18. ALA Code of Ethics
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.

19. ALA Code of Ethics
We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources.
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.

20. ALA Code of Ethics
We respect intellectual property rights and advocate balance between the interests of information users and rights holders.
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.

21. ALA Code of Ethics
We do not advance private interests at the expense of library users, colleagues, or our employing institutions.
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.

22. ALA Code of Ethics
We strive for excellence in the profession by maintaining and enhancing our knowledge and skills, by encouraging the professional development of co-workers, and by fostering the aspirations of potential members of the profession.

23. Special Ethical Problems with Information Technologies
Computers are extremely fast
Computer use is often private and anonymous
Computer access can be accomplished from great distance
The electronic medium is easily copies
Large number of people are easily reached
A Code of Ethics for Computer Use
Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics

24. Ethics and IT
Our increasing reliance on computing and networks has created many benefits for society
However, in addition to intended consequences, every social action also has unintended consequences
The dark side of computing
Computer crime
Unreliable hard/software
Software piracy
Invasion of privacy
Hacking and cracking
Workplace surveillance
Viruses and worms
Data mining

25. Approaches to Promote Ethical Conduct
Establishing rules and regulations
Developing training and education programs
Punishing individual for ethical violations
Establishing an ethics code for the organization
Hiring and promoting individuals with ethical behavior and understanding
Developing a system of rewards for both ethical actions and unethical ones

26. Discussion
A patron requests that he be furnished with information that would permit him to build a small bomb, "just big enough to demolish a small, suburban house." Would you, as a reference librarian, provide the information as requested? If not, what would you do, and how would you defend your action?