LIS 601Reference Ethics
Fall 2011
Dr. Diane Nahl
University of Hawaii
Library and Information Science Program
Ethical Standards for Reference Service
Behavioral Reference Standards [Handout pp. 20-27]
Professional Competencies [pp. 28-39]
Ethical Guidelines [pp. 48-52]
Codes for specializations [*Ch. 2 pp. 33-36]
ALA Library Bill of Rights [*Ch. 2 p. 38]
ALA Code of Ethics [Handout pp. 51-52; *Ch. 2 p. 32]
*Ch. 2 in Bopp & Smith, 2001, Reference & Information Services, 3rd ed., Libraries Unlimited.
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Ethics in Reference WorkMid-Late 19th century closed stacks
Late 19th century open stacks Self-improvement movement Intellectual freedom movement
Service-orientation Commitment to answering reader queries Persistence and professionalism in seeking answers to reader
queries
Subject & collection specialist
Online search intermediary
Instruction librarian
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User experience designer
Instructional designer
Department liaison
Concentric Spheres of Ethical Conduct
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Concentric Spheres of Ethical Conduct
Individual LevelTreat each person ethically
Organizational LevelAct in accord with the mission and goals of the organization
Professional LevelPromote established standards of professional conduct
Societal LevelServe the best interests of society as a whole
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Student Conduct CodesProfessional Expectations: http://www.hawaii.edu/lis/students.php?page=profexp
Student Conduct Codes:
http://studentaffairs.manoa.hawaii.edu/policies/conduct_code/
http://studentaffairs.manoa.hawaii.edu/policies/conduct_code/proscribed_conduct.php
IV.B.1 Academic Dishonesty
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Ethics in Action in Reference Work
Library users have a right to access information
Library users have a right to excellent reference and information service
Library users have a right to privacy in their information access
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Ethics in Reference Queries
Legal information
Medical information
Financial information
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Avoiding an Ethical Breach
Be circumspect at public reference desks
Be approachable and interested
Listen carefully and ask probing questions
Avoid bias
Keep current in your specialty
Refer questions only if you know it will work (call ahead)
Provide sources, not interpretation
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Avoiding an Ethical Breach
Check several sources
Show how to evaluate sources
Provide current, accurate sources
Don’t withhold information
Give advice about search strategy and merits of sources
Use tact and discretion
Follow-up
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Ethical Standards for Remote Reference
Formats
Telephone, FAX, Email, IM, Live Chat, Blog, Virtual WorldGive only factual information
Identify sources with complete citation and call number or URL or SLURL
Read or type brief information verbatimProvide transcript of text chat session or email
thread
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Ethical Dilemma Exercise 1:
How do you respond as the reference librarian?
A caller who sounds like an adult asks for information on making the street drug ‘ice’ or ethyl methamphetamine.
Discuss and create a reference librarian response with justifications that follow the Code of Ethics (pp. 51-52 handouts). Cite relevant Code numbers.
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Ethical Dilemma Exercise 2:
How do you respond as the reference librarian?
At a public library, a high school student asks for the book Final Exit [on suicide].
Discuss and create a reference librarian response with justifications that follow the Code of Ethics (p. 52 handouts). Cite relevant Code numbers.
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Ethical Dilemma Exercise 3:
How do you respond as the reference librarian?
At a college library, a librarian notes that a student downloads a term paper, and later his instructor mentions to the librarian she fears the paper may be plagiarized and asks how to check.
Discuss and create a reference librarian response with justifications that follow the Code of Ethics (p. 52 handouts). Cite relevant Code numbers. Are there relevant codes of conduct besides ALA?
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