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LIS 205: Introduction to Information Sources & Services

Unit 7: Ethical Reference Service

Kevin Rioux, PhD

Division of Library and Information Science

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Historical background

• Early libraries—closed stacks

• Modern librarianship emerged in a time of great moralism and “clear-minded-ness”.

– A response to social upheaval caused by rapid industrialization and immigration

• A “helping” profession

• Remains a highly-regarded profession and “product”

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Historical stances influence modern reference practice

• Maintains a service orientation

• Actively respond to user requests for information

• Counsels users on search strategies

• Instructs and educates

• Organizes materials to promote access

• Protects users’ privacy

• Advocates for intellectual freedom

• Continuously evaluates information systems for improvement

• Creates tools and pathfinders to assist information seekers

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Ethics are codified in Professional Codes

• ALA Code of Ethics

• ASIS Professional Guidelines

• Code of Ethics for Archivists, Health Sciences librarians, Law librarians, etc.

• Association of Computing Machinery Code of Ethics

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Protectors/Advocates/Activist for First Amendment Rights

• We have an ethical obligation to protect the First Amendment rights of users

– Our societal role is to disseminate information

– Right of access to information—advocate for this

– Intellectual freedom—people have the fundamental right to the ideas produced by society, and that our society benefits from the free flow of all ideas

• Somewhat of a radical statement

– “marketplace of ideas”

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Tensions

• Right of access vs. protecting individuals or society from harm

– Advocate access, but we should not aid what Hauptman calls “egregiously anti-social acts”.

• This is a tight rope to walk, sometimes

• Filtering

• Charging fees

• Privacy and confidentiality

• Disparate levels of service

– Especially for children

• Copyright