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 5: Instructions for bomb-making
Case description:A young user in black clothes with stickers and buttons that identify him as a sympathiser of a radical leftist organisation requests a number of publications he needs for school but that are not in the library. Because he is unfamiliar with the library, you tell him about interlibrary loans and offer to help him order the titles. Of the seven publications, six have a common theme. The seventh work is a publication by Johann Most entitled Revolutionary War Science. During the search, you note that the full title details are as follows:

Revolutionary War Science: a handbook of instructions concerning the use and manufacture of nitroglycerin, dynamite, gun cotton, mercury fulminate, bombs, incendiary devices, poisons etc., etc. by Johann Most. New York, Internat. Zeitungs-Verein, 1885. Keywords: explosives, anarchism.

Now you wonder whether it is responsible to obtain this title for an underage schoolboy.

Potential solution 1:You put your concerns to one side and order the book for the boy. It is, after all, a reprint of a work from the 19th century. The information it contains is probably out of date. Perhaps the book is indeed necessary for a chemistry lesson. In addition, it is unlikely that anyone wanting to build a bomb today would go to a library for the information. Everything is available on the internet.

Assessment:
  • The principle of free access to all kinds of information is intact.
    See D 1.3; D 2.1; I 1.1
  • There is no censorship.
    See D 2.1; I 1.2
  • You put your aversion to the subject of the work to one side and provide the user with the desired information.
    See D 1.9; I 5.1
  • You do not consider aspects of the protection of minors.
Potential solution 2:You have not ordered the book by Most because you are averse to such works. One should only make this kind of material available in exceptional cases, such as for research purposes, and only grant approval after detailed examination of the case.

When the young man picks up his order, he notices that the book by Most is missing. You explain to him that the book is not available because the library that owns it will not lend it for reasons of conservation.

Assessment:
  • The principle of free access to information is restricted.
  • There is censorship.
  • Your action is influenced by your personal values.
  • You have resorted to lying to avoid conflict.
  • The protection of minors is taken into account.
    See D 1.7; I 2.7
Potential solution 3:You discuss the case in the context of regular meetings of the reader services department. After in-depth discussion, it is decided to order the book; however, because of the need to protect minors, the young man would be asked why he needs the book before it is handed over. If he gives educational reasons, he should receive it; if he cannot give a plausible explanation he should not be given it.

Assessment:
  • The principle of free access to information may be restricted.
  • There may be some censorship.
  • The young user may be annoyed and avoid the library in the future.
  • Personal values play no role in the resolution of the case
  • The case was discussed with colleagues; it is incorporated in the library guidelines (policy), thereby improving the approach in your library, making it more consistent.
  • The protection of minors is taken into account.
    See D 1.7; I 2.7
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 1.4 Neutrality
“We inform and advise our clients objectively, impartially and courteously, and assist them in retrieving the information they need.”

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.”

D 1.9 Professionalism, neutrality:
"We fulfil our professional duties according to professional criteria regardless of our personal opinion and attitude."

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 / freedom of 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 2.7 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.”

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."

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:Walsdorff, Martin: Zensur in Bibliotheken. In: BuB.1979, 4, pp. 330-339.

Metadata:
Title:Instructions for bomb-making
KeywordsProtection of minors ; freedom of information ; leftism ; political violence; explosive devices; terrorism; censorship
ClassificationCollection development: political radicalism

Type of libraryPublic library

Place:Germany
Type of activityUse
References to values
Author:Hermann Rösch


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