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 3: Assisted Dying
Case description:The library purchased a book concerning self-determination at the end of life. After the title had been available for several months and had been borrowed a number of times, a local Catholic doctor demanded that the book be removed from the library. She justified this by saying that the book contained a contribution about the experience of a person who assisted a suicide. The author was an employee of the Swiss organisation Exit; Exit offers assistance with suicide, a practice that is illegal in Germany. The doctor argued that the book was both ethically and legally objectionable. Therefore she asked the library to remove the book from the stock immediately.

Potential solution 1:You give in and agree to remove the book. The book has been reserved. Once the reservation has been processed, you remove the book from the stock without saying anything. Should anyone object, you say the book had to be removed because it was damaged. There is no money for a replacement. There is no point having a dispute about a title and the user is satisfied. In addition, you are yourself opposed to assisted dying.

Assessment :

  • A conflict with the complainant is avoided.
  • Because of a personal opinion, the library collection is restricted for all users.
  • It is clearly a form of retroactive censorship.
  • The decision was based not on ethical reflection, but on an aversion to conflict and the prioritisation of your ideological orientation.
  • The principle of neutrality is violated.
  • The pluralistic orientation of the library is restricted.
Potential solution 2:You invite the doctor to an interview in which you listen to her arguments. Then you explain to her that you intend to allow the book to remain in the stock. Removal of the book would be censorship and this would be contrary to library and information codes of ethics. You point out that the book is not banned in Germany and there are no concerns from a legal perspective. Dozens of other libraries also have the title in stock.

Assessment :

  • The concern of the complainant is taken seriously.
  • The library collection is not limited for all users on the basis of a personal opinion.
    See D 1.3; I 1.1
  • The call for censorship is rejected.
    See D 2.1; I 1.2
  • The principle is followed whereby professional ethical obligations have priority over personal ideology.
    See I 5.1
  • The principle of neutrality is maintained.
    See D 1.9; I 5.1
  • The pluralistic orientation of the library is maintained.
Potential solution 3:You decide to keep the book in stock but remove it from open access. You consider this to be an acceptable compromise. You meet the complainant halfway without exercising censorship.

Assessment :

  • Conflict with the complainant is avoided or mitigated.
  • Because of one person’s opinion, usability of the title is restricted.
  • There is clearly a form of retroactive censorship: removal of the book from open access has no objective justification but results in its use being made more difficult.
  • The decision was based not on ethical reflection, but on an aversion to conflict and the prioritisation of your ideological orientation.
  • The principle of neutrality is violated.
  • The pluralistic orientation of the library is restricted.
Potential solution 4:
References to values:
Values: Professional ethics in Germany:		D 1.3 Free access:
“We provide our clients access to our holdings and publicly accessible information resources.”

D 2.1 Freedom from censorship:
“We reject censorship of content."

D 1.9 Neutrality:
"We perform our duties in a professional manner regardless of our personal opinion and view."

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 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.”

Further values:
References:Cobabus, Norbert: Der verbissene Kampf ums Bikini-Atoll. Zensur in westdeutschen Bibliotheken in den 1970er Jahren. In: BuB. 65, 2013, 4, pp. 293-295.

Jelavich, Peter: Der demokratische Giftschrank. Zensur und Indizierung in der Weimarer Republik und in der Bundesrepublik. In: Der Giftschrank. Erotik, Sexualwissenschaft, Politik und Literatur - Remota. Die weggesperrten Bücher der Bayerischen Statsbibliothek. Stephan Kellner, ed., München 2002, pp. 57-67.

Rösch, Hermann: Zensur in Bibliotheken. Historische Reminiszenz oder Dauerthema? In: LIBREAS. Library Ideas. 7, 2011, 2 (19), pp. 17-24.
http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:11-100194389 (3.6.13)

Metadata:
Title:Assisted Dying
KeywordsNeutrality ; assisted dying ; censorship
ClassificationCollection development : current controversial issues
Type of libraryPublic library

Place:Small town in Catholic rural area
Type of activityCollection development

References to values
Author:Hermann Rösch


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