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 18: Bestseller service
Case description:The weekly bestseller lists published in the media result in a heavy demand for their titles in your library. However, so far these works have been acquired on only a small scale (2-3 copies), so that there are long reservation lists and unacceptable waiting times. Many users complain about this.

The library′s User Advisory Board has discussed this issue in detail and has proposed levying a special fee for the loan of bestsellers; the money earned would be used to purchase additional copies of bestsellers. However, at least one copy should be available without this fee, with the disadvantage that long waiting times have to be tolerated.

It is argued that bestseller lists are a marketing tool of the big publishing houses, and result in a few titles being catapulted to dizzying heights; the development in favour of a cultural mainstream is forced and the chances of marginal titles are significantly diminished. In addition, the library should refrain from further fees and instead focus on its core tasks: it should provide services free of charge, treat all citizens equally and take seriously its educational mission.

Potential solution 1:You reject the introduction of a fee-based service for bestsellers on the ground that it would violate the principle of equal treatment. In addition, it would be contrary to the cultural mission of the library and would overstep legal boundaries.

Assessment :
  • Users continue to complain about long waiting times.
  • Many users will blame the library for lack of flexibility and inadequate customer service.
  • Experienced users will wonder why a bestseller service is offered in other cities, but not in theirs.
  • The requirement to treat all users equally is safeguarded.
    See D 1.5; I 2.1
  • The principle that the library offer is as free as possible is preserved.
    See I 1.3
Potential solution 2:You agree to the User Advisory Council’s proposal despite objections from colleagues. Dozens of libraries in Germany offer such a bestseller service, without legal complaints. Moreover you do not consider the principle of equal treatment to have been breached, because basically nothing changes for users, except that they have a chance to take up an additional offer for a small fee (about 3 euros). In addition, you can use the offer to advertise the library to political decision-making bodies. However, it is important to ensure that the funds generated will be entirely reinvested for the purchase of bestsellers.

Assessment :
  • Users will be happy about decreasing waiting times.
  • Many users will perceive the library to be flexible and service-oriented.
  • Users and policy makers will evaluate the library as professionally proactive.
    See D 1.2; I 4.2
  • The requirement to treat all users equally is safeguarded.
    See D 1.5; I 2.1
  • The principle that the library offer is as free as possible is reduced.
Potential solution 3:
Potential solution 4:
References to values:
Values: Professional ethics in Germany:		D 1.2 Professionalism:
"We offer high quality services to all our clients."

D 1.5 Equal treatment:
"We treat all our clients with equal respect, regardless of their origin, race, age, social status, creed, gender or sexual orientation."

References to values:
Values: International professional ethics (IFLA):		I 1.3 Cost free services, equal treatment, inclusion:
"Librarians and other information workers offering services to the public should make every endeavour to offer access to their collections and services free of cost to the user. If membership fees and administrative charges are inevitable, they should be kept as low as possible, and practical solutions found so that socially disadvantaged people are not excluded."

I 2.1 Inclusion, equal treatment:
“In order to promote inclusion and eradicate discrimination, librarians and other information workers ensure that the right of accessing information is not denied and that equitable services are provided for everyone whatever their age, citizenship, political belief, physical or mental ability, gender identity, heritage, education, income, immigration and asylum-seeking status, marital status, origin, race, religion or sexual orientation."

I 4.2 Professionalism:
“Librarians and other information workers aim to provide fair, swift, economical and effective access to information for users."

Further values:
References:Barbian, Jan-Pieter: Mitten in der Gesellschaft angekommen. Für welche Werte stehen Bibliotheken? In: BuB 65, 2013, 6, pp. 446-447.

Buchanan, Elizabeth A., Kathrine A. Henderson: Case Studies in Library and Information Science Ethics. Jefferson, NC, London 2009, p. 41.

Giersberg, Dagmar: Bestseller-Service in Bibliotheken - Service oder Kommerz? In: Goethe-Institut. January 2011.
http://www.goethe.de/wis/bib/fdk/de7101702.htm (18.6.13)

Mahrt-Thomson, Frauke: Verantwortung übernehmen! Bestseller-Service und bibliothekarische Ethik. In: BuB. 63, 2011, 4, p. 281.

Metadata:
Title:Bestseller service
KeywordsBestseller service ; range of services ; fees ; cost of freedom ; professionalism ; social commitment
ClassificationUse : fee-based offers

Type of libraryPublic library
Place:City
Type of activityUse
References to values
Author:Hermann Rösch


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