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 25: Indexing term foreign infiltration
Case description:The stock of your library includes the title: "Germany abolishes itself. How we put our country at risk" by Thilo Sarrazin.

You acquired the title shortly after its release and obtained metadata from the German National Library. The terms assigned to this item and which are now in your catalogue are:

Germany / economic development / population / intelligence structure / multicultural society / foreign infiltration / decline of birth rate /

The work has been borrowed many times over a long period. Now, after several years, a user has protested about the term "foreign infiltration". His argument is that:

"Foreign infiltration" is a highly problematic term. It implies a certain perspective and thus violates the principle of neutrality. Immigration / migration is regarded here as displacement, as an imposition and a threat to a "natural" state. Through such indexing the library supports xenophobic tendencies and ultimately right-wing and racist forces.

Until now, you had not noticed the term "foreign infiltration". On checking, you find that it is included in the Integrated Authority File. The explanation in the authority record reads: "Definition: Changes in certain social forms of life under the influence of external influences (e.g. formerly rural social structures, norms and behaviours influenced by urban models) ". The source is given as Brockhaus 2006. In this respect, the term is formally compliant with the rules. Is it appropriate or necessary to change the indexing locally?

Potential solution 1:You reject a change, because you recognise the responsibility of the Integrated Authority File. When there the decision has been taken for the term "foreign infiltration", there is no reason to doubt the reasonableness of that decision.

Assessment :
  • You legitimise the decision of the Integrated Authority File, without examining it yourself.
  • You are then relying on the authority of the National Library instead of taking responsibility yourself.
  • A substantive examination of the objection of the user does not occur.
  • The term "foreign infiltration" is actually problematic for reasons of content, even though it conforms to the rules of keyword formation.
  • In the present case, the principle of neutrality is clearly violated by this term, which implies a certain judgement.
  • The action is more of a bureaucratic defence than a substantive examination of the complaint.
Potential solution 2:You look into the matter and find that although the German National Library has 10 titles associated with the term "foreign infiltration" this term is not used for the title by Thilo Sarrazin. However, a change has been made since the appearance of the title in 2010. Apparently, for indexing of the title by Sarrazin, "foreign infiltration" was replaced in 2013 by combining "Immigration / birth rate". Most associations and libraries retain the original indexing by the German National Library with the controversial term "foreign infiltration".

The argument of the user convinces you; apparently the German National Library has meanwhile also had scruples about assigning the term "foreign infiltration". You decide to remove this term from your catalogue in order to preserve the neutrality of the library.

Assessment :
  • Your decision helps correct indexing that was ethically barely defensible.
  • You accept responsibility and thereby safeguard the fundamental value of neutrality.
    See D 1.4; I 5.1
  • You have resolved the problem at a local level; it would make sense to initiate a discussion at a higher level, which aims to draw attention to the different indexing that has resulted from the correction of the German National Library and to remove the term from the authority file.
  • The user will feel he has been taken seriously by the library and be pleased about the result.
Potential solution 3:
Potential solution 4:
References to values:
Values: Professional ethics in Germany:		D 1.4 Neutrality
“We inform and advise our clients objectively, impartially and courteously, and assist them in retrieving the information they need.”

References to values:
Values: International professional ethics (IFLA):		I 5.1 Neutrality:
"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."

Further values:
References:Schaper, Axel: Ausleseförderung. In: netbib weblog. 20.5.12.
http://log.netbib.de/archives/2012/05/20/auslesefoerderung/ (25.6.13)

Schaper, Axel: Bitte nicht. In: netbib weblog. 1.3.13.
http://log.netbib.de/archives/2011/03/01/bitte-nicht/ (25.6.13)

Schaper, Axel: Überfremdung. In: netbib weblog. 23.9.10.
http://log.netbib.de/archives/2010/09/23/uberfremdung/ (25.6.13)

Metadata:
Title:Indexing term foreign infiltration
KeywordsDevelopment ; neutrality ; indexing
ClassificationDevelopment : content
Type of libraryPublic library

Academic library
Place:Germany
Type of activityDevelopment
References to valuesCf Case study 12 Sex tourism
Author:Hermann Rösch


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