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 10: Creationism
Case description:A group called "Church of the early days" sends 18 different books as a gift to the library with a request to include the works in the collection. The books include a Bible for adults and an illustrated childrenŒs Bible. The senders explicitly point out that the volumes belong to them until they are accepted by the library and demand their return if they are not included in the libraryfs collection.

The religious orientation of the works is not immediately evident from the titles and the presentation. However, following an initial reading, it soon becomes clear that the books present creationist theories in a fundamentalist way. For example, the followers of modern Darwinian evolutionary theories are characterised as being possessed by the devil.

Must / should these works be included?

Potential solution 1:You discard the books immediately as creationist theories are deeply repugnant to you. You are not worried about sanctions by the "donor" because you are not obliged to accept unsolicited gifts nor to return them. You will not even notify the sender.

Assessment :
  • Legal consequences of your action are not to be feared.
  • The justification for the rejection of the books contravenes the requirement of freedom from censorship and the need not to allow personal beliefs to influence professional activity.
Potential solution 2:You discard the volumes because the subjects they deal with are not included in the range of topics collected by your library. This may be read in the guidelines to collection development which are available on the libraryfs website.

Assessment :
  • Legal consequences of your action are not to be feared.
  • The justification for the rejection of the books is consistent with the fundamental values of freedom from censorship and freedom of access to information. This is easy to prove, since the policy on collection development has long been adopted and has been published.
    See D 1.9; D 2.1; I 1.2; I 5.1; I 5.2; I 5.3
Potential solution 3:Creationist views are deeply repugnant to you, yet you check whether anything comparable already exists in the library, since the volumes thematically belong to the collection profile of your library. When you have established that this is not the case, you accept one of the works that clearly presents the core ideas in detailed form. You discard the other works.

Assessment :
  • Legal consequences of your action are not to be feared.
  • The justification for the rejection of the books is consistent with the fundamental values of freedom from censorship and freedom of access to information. This is easy to prove, since the policy on collection development has long been adopted and has been published.
    See D 1.9; D 2.1; I 1.2; I 5.1; I 5.2; I 5.3
Potential solution 4:You accept all works in order to save yourself trouble. Whom can it hurt if these titles are recorded and deposited? You can save your time and energy for other activities in the library.

  • Legal consequences of your action are not to be feared.
  • The justification for the inclusion of the books contravenes the requirement of balanced collection development. Donors could thus influence the collection policy unilaterally in their favour.
    See D 1.9; D 2.1; I 1.2; I 5.1; I 5.2; I 5.3
    • References to values:
    Values: Professional ethics in Germany:    		D 1.9 Neutrality:
    "We fulfil our professional duties according to professional criteria regardless of our personal opinion and attitude."

    D 2.1 Freedom of expression, freedom of information, freedom from censorship:
    "We support freedom of expression and the free flow of information; libraries and information facilities should guarantee unimpeded access to information resources of all kinds in our democratic society. We reject censorship ".

    References to values:
    Values: International professional ethics (IFLA):    		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 5.1 Neutrality, pluralism:
    "Librarians and other information workers are strictly committed to neutrality and an unbiased stance regarding collection, access and service. Neutrality results in the most balanced collection and the most balanced access to information achievable."

    I 5.2 Policies for collection development:
    "Librarians and other information workers define and publish their policies for selection, organisation, preservation, provision, and dissemination of information."

    I 5.3 Neutrality:
    "Librarians and other information workers distinguish between their personal convictions and professional duties. They do not advance private interests or personal beliefs at the expense of neutrality."

    Further values:
    References:McMenemy, David, Alan Poulter, Paul F. Burton: A Handbook of Ethical Practice. A practical guide to dealing with ethical issues in information and library work. Oxford 2007. p. 51.

    Metadata:
    Title:Creationism
    KeywordsFundamentalism ; gift ; creationism ; neutrality ; sect
    ClassificationCollection development : religion

    Type of libraryPublic library

    Place:Germany
    Type of activityCollection development
    References to values
    Author:Hermann Rösch


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