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 24: Activities on first day of school
Case description:For the first day of school, you want to organise a week of action for first-time readers. You want to use this opportunity to draw attention to the ways in which the library can promote reading. However, your own resources are not enough to finance the whole operation. A local bookstore and a children′s publisher offer to sponsor the activity. With their support, it will be possible to give all new pupils in your city a reading bag containing a free library card, an invitation to a reading afternoon in the library, a children′s book from the publisher for first-time readers as well as a shopping voucher for 3 euros, which may be spent in the bookstore on goods amounting to more than 20 euros. The publisher and bookstore expect in return that the reading bag will contain promotional material for their businesses, including a bookmark with advertising for the publisher.

Is such cooperation responsible or does it violate the principle of library neutrality?

Potential solution 1:You have qualms about whether cooperation with a specific publisher and a particular bookstore is justifiable. Other publishers and bookstores could be seen as being put at a disadvantage by the library. You decline the offer of the sponsors and thereby decide against the planned action for first-time readers. Moreover, the status of the library as a commercial-free zone, as a shelter where the user is free from economic constraints, is not affected.

Assessment :
  • Your actions to promote reading can only be realised to a significantly lesser extent.
  • Public relations and advertising to parents and children is only possible to a limited extent.
  • The library is not under the suspicion of favouring individual publishers and bookstores – for any reason whatsoever.
    See D 1.7; I 5.5
Potential solution 2:You consider the cooperation with the two sponsors to be reasonable as long as no competitor is specifically excluded. The library as a shelter from economic constraints for users is an important value to you, but you do not believe that this principle is seriously affected by this action. In your opinion, the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

Assessment :
  • You can extend your work to promote reading.
    See D 2.6; I 2.5
  • You can implement additional measures for public relations and advertising directed at parents and children.
    See D 2.10; I 1.4
  • The library could be suspected of favouring individual publishers and bookstores.
  • Perhaps critics will accuse the library of corruption.
  • The library has involved external economic interests in its actions, albeit to a small extent.
Potential solution 3:
Potential solution 4:
References to values:
Values: Professional ethics in Germany:		D 2.6 Promotion of reading:
"We organize events to promote reading and the active use of information, alone and in cooperation with partners."

D 2.7 Fight against corruption:
"Our relationship with suppliers and other business partners is based on a high ethical standard."

D 2.10 Public relations:
"We actively advertise our services and facilities to the members of the public to make them aware of all means of access to public information."

References to values:
Values: International professional ethics (IFLA):		I 1.4 Public relations:
"Librarians and other information workers promote and publicise their collection and services so that users and prospective users are aware of their existence and availability."

I 2.5 Promotion of reading:
"Librarians and other information workers offer services to increase reading skills."

I 5.5 Fight against corruption:
"Librarians and other information workers counter corruption directly affecting librarianship, as in the sourcing and supply of library materials, appointments to library posts and administration of library contracts and finances."

Further values:
References:Gewissensbisse. Ethische Probleme der Informatik. Biometrie, Datenschutz, geistiges Eigentum. Debora Weber-Wulff, Christina Class, Wolfgang Croy, Constanze Kurz, David Zellhöfer. Bielefeld: transcript 2009. p. 34.

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. 44.

Metadata:
Title:Activities on first day of school
KeywordsEnrolment ; corruption ; promotion of reading ; neutrality ; sponsorship
ClassificationManagement : public private partnership
Type of libraryPublic library
Place:Germany
Type of activityPublic relations

Management
References to values
Author:Hermann Rösch


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