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 19: Gay parents
Case description:The library stock includes a children′s book, published in the USA, which is controversial:

Richardson, Justin, Peter Parnell: And Tango Makes Three. Illustrated by Henry Cole. London : Simon and Schuster, 2007.

The story centres on a gay penguin couple who take care of an abandoned egg and take turns incubating. Finally a female penguin chick hatches and is named Tango. The parents take loving care of the chick and raise it together. The book is based on a true story that took place among chinstrap penguins in the zoo of New York′s Central Park.

Concerned parents have asked the library to remove the book immediately from the freely accessible children′s book section and only allow it to be borrowed by children and adolescents with the written permission of parents. They base their claim on the assertion that homosexuality among animals is unnatural; the portrayal could produce a questionable attitude to family and sexuality in children. They point out that from 2006 to 2008 the work was the most commonly removed book from children′s departments of libraries in the USA.

Potential solution 1:You refuse to remove the book from the children′s section. It is not harmful to minors, but is educationally particularly valuable because it facilitates explaining to children the phenomenon of homosexual relations in a playful way. It is for the parents and possibly teachers to take up the children′s questions and to respond accordingly.

Assessment :
  • A censorship request is rejected; free access to the contentious work is maintained.
    See D 1.3; D 2.1; I 1.1; I 1.2
  • The complainant may inform the press, which takes up such controversy willingly.
  • The protection of minors is safeguarded.
    See D 1.7; I 2.7
  • The principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination of different sexual orientations are safeguarded.
    See D 1.7; I 1.7
Potential solution 2:You show understanding and remove the book from the children′s section. In future it will be found in the adult section as nonfiction. This ensures that children and young people cannot access the book easily.

Assessment :
  • A censorship request is granted; free access to the contentious work is limited.
  • Probably other parents or users will protest and charge the library with inciting prejudice against homosexuals.
  • The protection of minors is safeguarded.
    See D 1.7; I 2.7
  • The principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination of different sexual orientations are violated.

Potential solution 3:
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.h

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 1.1 Access to 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 2.1 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 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:And Tango Makes Three.
In: Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_Tango_Makes_Three (18.6.13)

Buchanan, Elizabeth A., Kathrine A. Henderson: Case Studies in Library and Information Science Ethics. Jefferson, NC, London 2009. p. 44.

Frequently challenged books of the 21st century. American Library Association.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/21stcenturychallenged (18.6.13)

Jones Barbara: Die Woche der verbannten Bücher. Eine Tradition der American Library Association auf Globalisierungskurs. In: BuB. 65, 2013, 4, pp. 290-292.

Metadata:
Title:Gay parents
KeywordsHomosexuality ; child protection; children′s books ; gay parents ; censorship
ClassificationDevelopment : shelving

Type of libraryPublic library
Place:USA
Type of activityUse

References to valuesCf Case study 11 – Piglet book
Author:Hermann Rösch


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