Ethics
Because staff should understand what behaviors are expected and acceptable,
library directors must take a leadership role in demonstrating that everyone must take
personal responsibility for behavior and shared values. This includes relationships with
multiple stakeholders, the board, staff, vendors, the public, community and other
organizations
The American Library Association has remained committed to making the ethical
principles that guide our library work known to the library professional and to the
general public. Their Code of Ethics prescribes the guidance for our ethical decision
making.
The Medical Library Association’s (MLA) Code of Ethics can be useful in
establishing consumer health guidelines for working with library patrons. Note how
MLA interpreted the Code for its members.
The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works developed
guidelines that use words such as “responsibility,” “obligation,” “respectful,” and
“honesty” in its Code of Ethics.
Members of the Society of American Archivists subscribe to the Code of Ethics for
Archivists. Similar to other codes, this one also serves as a framework.
The Nonprofit Resource Network at Millersville University provides links through
its “Resources” page to codes of ethics adhered to in various professional organizations.
Some links are broken. See especially the American Marketing Association’s “Statement
of Ethics.” The headings for the section on Ethical Values may be helpful when you
prepare your library’s code.
The Northern Onondaga Public Library “Conflict of Interest Policy: Policy on
Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure of Certain Interests” is an example of a
comprehensive ethics policy that applies to both staff and the library board.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission publishes a variety
of publications that are available at no cost. The “Guide to the Pennsylvania Public
Official and Employee Ethics Act” can serve as an outline for local ethics handbooks.
Everyday Ethics Webinar Archives and More section on the WebJunction Kansas
covers such topics as access, collections, meeting rooms and answering questions. See
especially Pat Wagner’s presentation, Everyday Ethics - An Overview and her handouts.
Buchanan, Elizabeth and Katherine A. Henderson. Case Studies in Library and
Information Sciences Ethics. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2009. Available through
Access Pennsylvania Database. Here’s how the publisher describes the book: "This
work is a valuable casebook, specifically for library and information science
professionals, that presents numerous case studies that combine theories of ethics and
librarianship with practical, real-life scenarios.” This book could be useful in setting up
scenarios for staff discussions about ethical issues.
Rhode, Deborah L. and Amanda K. Packel. “Ethics and Nonprofits,” Stanford
Social Innovation Review. (Summer 2009). “Unethical behavior remains a persistent
problem in nonprofits and for-profits alike. To help organizations solve that problem,
the authors examine the factors that influence moral conduct, the ethical issues that
arise specifically in charitable organizations, and the best ways to promote ethical
behavior within organizations.”
The topics that the United States Department of Agriculture has listed in the
category of ethics for its employees, “Rules for the Road,” include lobbying, gifts, social
events, etc. Even though the specifics don’t necessarily pertain to your library, these
topics are helpful in designing staff training.
Library Centers for Effective Nonprofits is a collaborative project of the Lewis &
Clark Library System, The Shawnee Library System, The Nonprofit Services Consortium;
funded by the WK Kellogg Foundation. Their list of citations, “Accountability and Ethics”
includes links to conflict of interest documents as well.
The Beard Center for Leadership in Ethics Duquesne University lists ethics
resources including organizations, periodicals, and other webographies.
The PowerPoint presentation, “Professionalism in Marketing,” by O.C. Ferrell,
Colorado State University, and William Pride, Texas A & M University, addresses
behavior in the workplace and classroom.
Ethics Bites is now available on iTunes U together with transcripts. There’s a
wide range of topics including copyright, business ethics, censorship and free speech.
Enter iTunes U and select “Open University-Ethics Bites.” These podcasts are also
available through the Open University BBC.
Should proposal writers be paid a percentage of grant monies received or a fixed
fee? See the FAQs of The Foundation Center for a discussion about that topic.
Wright, Aliah D. “Survey: Nonprofits Fall Short on Ethics.” HR Magazine 53, no.
5 (May 2008): 24-24. OmniFile Full Text Mega, WilsonWeb (accessed February 7,
2010). The survey “found that fraud is as prevalent in nonprofit organizations as in
business….”
Schmidt, Elizabeth. “How Ethical Is Your Nonprofit Organization.” Guidestar
(November 2004). The author discusses how necessary principles and procedures can
be in avoiding minefields.
Ethics in Nonprofit Management : a Collection of Cases, edited by Kenneth G.
Koziol. San Francisco: Institute for Nonprofit Organization Management, University of
San Francisco, 1998. Available through Access Pennsylvania Database. Sometimes it is
easier to relate and learn from case studies.
This survey article provides an overview of the wide sprectrum of ethical issues
that library managers face. Barsh, Adele and Amy Lisewski. “Library Managers and
Ethical Leadership: A Survey of Current Practices from the Perspective of Business
Ethics.” Journal of Library Administration 47 (March-April 2008): 27, 41. Article
available through Access Pennsylvania Database.
The recording is available of “The Ethics of Innovation: Navigating Privacy,
Policy and Service,” an online symposium held November 17, 2010, sponsored by OCLC
and Library Journal. This is a discussion of “the ways in which ethical considerations
affect innovation, privacy issues and how libraries deliver services.”
Audi, Robert. Business Ethics and Ethical Business. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2009. Available through Access Pennsylvania Database. Robert Audi
is the David E. Gallo Professor of Business Ethics at the Mendoza College of Business
and the author of 13 books. Note especially his section on internal management.
The Carol and Lawrence Zicklin Center for Business Ethics at the University of
Pennsylvania Wharton School publishes “Ethics Today,” “a compendium of recent
articles on business ethics, as well as company annual social reports and social
initiatives. Consumer groups are increasingly demanding socially responsible actions….”
Public libraries have begun to issue values statements that identify the most
important attributes associated with how the staff interacts with each other, how library
management regards the staff, how the staff and library customers interact, and how
customers are served.
Albany County Public Library, WY
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
Grand Rapid Public Library, MI
Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT
The University of California at Berkeley has adopted a comprehensive “Statement
of Values,” much of which is applicable to any type of library.
WebJunction Courses
WebJunction Pennsylvania provides a large selection of free and discounted
online workshops and training courses available to library employees, library board
members, and trustees in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This service is supported
by a grant from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries. Log on to your account for
access to courses such as:
Ethics in the Real World: Library Case Studies (LE@D)
Business Ethics for Managers
Making Decisions Ethically
A Manager's Introduction to Business Law
Ethical Standards for Library Leadership (LE@D)