Newsgroups: bit.listserv.ethics-l
Date:         Mon, 16 Nov 1992 14:03:59 -0500
From:         "Carl M. Kadie" <kadie@EFF.ORG>
Subject:      Public & Corporate Librarian Ethics Codes
Comments: To: ETHICS-L@vm.poly.edu

Here are two professional societies' ethics codes.

The first is the American Library Association's (ALA) "The Librarian's
Code of Ethics". The ALA is the main professional society for "public"
librarians. The second is the American Society for Information
Science's (ASIS) "A Code of Ethics for Information Scientists". The
ASIS is the main professional society for "corporate librarians".

I find it interesting that the codes implicitly distinish between
"public" and "private" librarians. As sys admin's professionalize, I
think there will be a similar need to distinish between "public" and
"private" sys admins. Moreover, with the change of a few words, I
think each code could apply to a type of sys admin.

- Carl

============= ftp.eff.org:pub/academic/library/ethics.ala ===========
[From _Intellectual Freedom Manual 3d ed. (Chicago: American Library
Association, 1989).]

The Librarian's Code of Ethics

I.  Librarians must provide the highest level of service through
     appropriate and usefully organized collections, fair and
     equitable circulation and service policies, and skillful,
     accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests for
     assistance.

II.  Librarians must resist all efforts by groups or individuals to censor
     library material.

III. Librarians must protect each user's right to privacy with respect to
     information sought or received and materials consulted, borrowed,
     or acquired.

IV.  Librarians must adhere to the principles of due process and
     equality of opportunity in peer relationships and personal
     actions.

V.   Librarians must distinguish clearly in their actions and
     statements between their personal philosophies and attitudes and
     those of an institution or professional body.

VI.  Librarians must avoid situations in which personal interests might be
     served or financial benefits gained at the expense of library
     users, colleagues, or the employing institution.

============= ftp.eff.org:pub/academic/library/ethics.asis ===========
[From _Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science (August/
September 1990): 25]

A Code of Ethics for Information Scientists:

Responsibility to Individual Persons

Information professionals should:

  * strive to make information available to individuals who need it

  * strive both to ensure accuracy and not to infringe upon privacy or
    confidentiality in providing information about individuals

  * protect each information user's and provider's right to privacy
    and confidentiality

  * respect an information provider's proprietary rights

Responsibility to Society

Information professionals should:

  * serve the legitimate information needs of a large and complex society
    while at the same time being mindful of individuals' rights

  * resist efforts to censor publications

  * play active roles in educating society to understand and
    appreciate the importance of information promoting equal
    opportunity for access to information
==============================================================================
--
Carl Kadie -- I do not represent EFF; this is just me.
 =kadie@eff.org, kadie@cs.uiuc.edu =
--
Carl Kadie -- I do not represent EFF; this is just me.
 =kadie@eff.org, kadie@cs.uiuc.edu =
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU