Edili: Ethical dilemmas for librarians and other information workers: case studies

Overview of the previously registered case studies
The database contains 27 case studies

IDTitleKeywordsType of libraryType of activity
1 Use of filtering software Filtering software ; freedom of information ; protection of minors Public library Use
2 Armenian Genocide Armenians; equal treatment; freedom of expression; neutrality; pluralism; censorship Scientific library; city public library Cooperation with external partners; space allocation
3 Assisted Dying Neutrality ; assisted dying ; censorship Public library

Collection development

4 Use of RFID Data protection ; user’s point of view ; rationalisation ; RFID ; monitoring Public library

Academic library 		Use

Management
5 Instructions for bomb-making Protection of minors ; freedom of information ; leftism ; political violence; explosive devices; terrorism; censorship Public library

Use
6 Reviews in the catalogue Catalogue enrichment ; neutrality ; review Public library Development
7 Cultivation of cannabis Data protection ; drugs ; cannabis cultivation ; police investigations ; police access to user data Public library Management
8 Suicide Suicide ; responsibility ; censorship Public library Collection development
9 Anorexic girl Data protection ; protection of minors ; anorexia ; responsibility ; confidentiality Public library Use
10 Creationism Fundamentalism ; gift ; creationism ; neutrality ; sect Public library

Collection development
11 Piglet book Atheism ; child protection ; children′s books ; censorship Public library in a small town Collection development

Development
12 Sex tourism Development ; feminism ; misogyny; sexism; sex tourism; keywords Academic library Development
13 Customer or user? Library function ; educational mission; public service ; economisation ; New Public Management Public library Public relations

14 Bookbinding Bookbinding ; book cover ; courtesy ; corruption Academic library Management
15 Animal rights Equal treatment ; hunting ; neutrality ; animal rights activists Public library Use
16 Negro king Children′s books ; political correctness ; racism ; text authenticity Public library Collection development
17 Homework exchange Fraud ; filtering software ; homework exchange ; internet access ; obtaining grades by fraud ; plagiarism Academic library Use
18 Bestseller service Bestseller service ; range of services ; fees ; cost of freedom ; professionalism ; social commitment Public library Use
19 Gay parents Homosexuality ; child protection; children′s books ; gay parents ; censorship Public library Use

20 Burka wearing Acceptable use policy ; misogyny ; clothing ; cultural diversity ; religion Public library

Academic library 		Use
21 Smell of urine Harassment ; damage ; equal treatment ; smells ; media ; smell of urine Public library

Academic library 		Use
22 Transvestite Harassment ; transvestite Public library

Academic library 		Use
23 Guttenberg Development ; Guttenberg ; plagiarism ; tradition Academic library Development
24 Activities on first day of school Enrolment ; corruption ; promotion of reading ; neutrality ; sponsorship Public library Public relations

Management
25 Indexing term foreign infiltration Development ; neutrality ; indexing Public library

Academic library 		Development
26 Author reading Author reading ; blackmail ; political pressure ; quality Public library

District library 		Space allocation
27 Homophobia Exhibition ; homophobia ; homosexuality ; caricature ; artistic freedom ; freedom of expression ; censorship City public library Use

case study 1: Use of filtering software
Case description:When a user of a library computer tries to access an online tabloid newspaper, he gets the automatically generated message that access to the newspaper’s domain is blocked. The fact that filtering software has been installed is not evident on the computer nor is it mentioned in the library regulations.

When the user queries this, an administrator tells him that filtering software has been installed on the computer to prevent young people gaining access to pornographic material. The user replies that it could be just an oversight. He just wants to read the newspaper online and that it is certainly not harmful to minors. The administrator points out that the software is a foreign product. The software company has set the stop words and other filtering mechanisms; it would not provide information about the specific filtering techniques because this is a trade secret. Although it is possible to unlock individual addresses manually, this is too time-consuming.

The user points out that he is of legal age. He visits the library manager and demands that the library provides him with unfiltered internet access. Otherwise he will inform the press about the censorship practices of the library.

Potential solution 1:The library manager tells the administrator to disable the filtering software for the duration of the user's session.

Assessment:

  • Protection of minors is maintained.
    See D 1.7; I 2.7
  • Restriction on free access to information for other adult users remains.
  • Access to internet-based resources is censored.
  • The user is satisfied; the acute conflict has been resolved.
  • A renewed clash with this user at a later date is not unlikely.
  • Conflicts with other people are also not excluded.
Potential solution 2:The library manager points out that the library is obliged to configure the computers used by young people to prevent access to violent, racist, pornographic and other material harmful to minors; this is for reasons of protection of minors. However, because it could not be ensured that children or young people did not use the computers in the adult area, filters must be used on all public internet computers in the library.

Assessment:

  • Protection of minors is maintained.
    See D 1.7; I 2.7
  • There is still restriction on free access to information for all other adult users.
  • Access to internet-based resources is censored.
  • A press campaign "Censorship in the library" is not excluded
  • A renewed clash with this user at a later date is not unlikely.
  • Conflicts with other people are also not excluded.
Potential solution 3:The library manager promises to help; she discusses the case with her colleagues. Finally she orders that the filtering software be used on only some of the public internet computers in the library. These computers should be marked clearly as being equipped with filtering software and therefore reserved for young people. The other computers should be labelled as exclusively for adult users. In addition, the library regulations are amended so that young people may only use internet computers that have filtering software installed .

Assessment:

  • Protection of minors is maintained.
    See D 1.7; I 2.7
  • Restriction on free access to information for all other adult users has been lifted.
    See D 1.3; I 1.1; I 1.2
  • In the future, access to internet-based resources is not censored for adults.
    See D 1.3; I 1.1; I 1.2
  • The user is satisfied and is pleased that his complaint has been taken seriously.
  • It is not impossible that young people nevertheless deliberately use the filter-free computers, thereby infringing the library regulations. Sanctions for this could include temporary exclusion from the library or fines similar to those for overdue items.
  • Adult users could commit the offence of accessing or downloading child pornography. However, the library should not be responsible for this, but the user.
Potential solution 4:
References to values:
Values: Professional ethics in Germany:		D 1.3 Access to information
"We give our customers access to our holdings and to publicly available information resources."

D 1.7 Protection of minors
"We work on the basis of the Youth Protection Act and other statutory regulations for the protection of children and young people from content that is not suitable for them.”

D 2.1 Freedom of information, freedom from censorship:
"We are committed to freedom of opinion and the free flow of information, and to the existence of libraries and information institutions as guarantors of unimpeded access to information resources of all kinds in our democratic society. We reject censorship of content.

References to values:
Values: International professional ethics (IFLA):		I 1.1 Access to information / freedom of information
“The core mission of librarians and other information workers is to ensure access to information for all for personal development, education, cultural enrichment, leisure, economic activity and informed participation in and enhancement of democracy.”

I 1.2 Freedom from censorship:
“Librarians and other information workers reject the denial and restriction of access to information and ideas most particularly through censorship whether by states, governments, or religious or civil society institutions.”

I 2.7 Protection of minors
“Librarians and other information workers respect the protection of minors while ensuring this does not impact on the information rights of adults.”

Further values:
References:Caldwell-Stone, Deborah: Filtering and the First Amendment. In: American Libraries. 2 April 2013.
http://http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2013/04/02/filtering-and-the-first-amendment/ (28.5.13)

Houghton-Jan, Sarah: Internet-Filtering. In: Library technology reports. 46, 2010, 8, pp. 25-33.

Jones, Barbara: Libraries, Sexual Content and the Internet. Striking a Balance between Rights, Access and Comfort. In: Huff Post. 2 February 2012.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbara-jones/post_2901_b_1231610.html (28.5.2013)

Jones, Barbara M.: Libraries, Technology, and the Culture of Privacy. In: Library technology reports. 46, 2010, 8, pp. 8-12.

McIntyre, T.J., Colin Scott: Internet Filtering: Rhetoric, Legitimacy, Accountability and Responsibility. In: Regulating Technologies. Brownsword, R., Yeung, K, eds., Oxford, Hart Publishing, 2008. pp. 1-15.
http://www.academia.edu/178102/Internet_Filtering_Rhetoric_Legitimacy_Accountability_and_Responsibility (28.5.13)

Riedel, Daniel: Berliner Stadtbibliothek sperrt Bild.de.
http://www.bild.de/BILD/regional/berlin/aktuell/2011/03/11/stadtbibliothek-sperrt-bild-de/zensur-wie-in-china.html (28.5.13)

Rösch, Hermann: Ethik in der bibliothekarischen Praxis - bibliothekarische Berufsethik. In: 100. Deutscher Bibliothekartag in Berlin 2011. Bibliotheken für die Zukunft - Zukunft für die Bibliotheken. Ulrich Hohoff, ed., Hildesheim 2012. pp. 209-221. Here pp. 212-214. (Deutscher Bibliothekartag. Kongressbände)
http://publiscologne.fh-koeln.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/115 (28.5.13)

Metadata:
Title:Use of filtering software
KeywordsFiltering software ; freedom of information ; protection of minors
ClassificationAccess to information : use of filtering software

Use : protection of minors
Type of libraryPublic library
Place:Germany
Type of activityUse
References to valuesCf Case study 4 – RFID

Case study 17 – Homework exchange
Author:Hermann Rösch


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