Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT

The ethics of concern to the staff of the Unversity Library are those of the library and information profession as a whole. Ther include honesty , Integrity and competenceas expressed through the following:

• Service
• Privacy
• Intellectual Freedom
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Good Employment Principles
• Continuing Professional Education
• Professional Duty v. Personal Convictions
• Private needs v. Institution's needs
• Information Technology Codes of Conduct

Service

Library staff provide the highest level of service to all library users through:

• appropriate and usefully organised resources acquired in a timely and cost effective way;
• equitable service policies so that no user is denied educational opportunities or discriminated against; equitable access;
• quality courses to educate users in retrieval and management of information;
• providing an environment that is conducive to work and study;
• prompt, accurate, unbiased and courteous responses to all requests. This includes listening carefully, being friendly and welcoming, and being helpful and efficient;
• responding to feedback mechanisms such as suggestion board comments and complaints.

Library staff provide the highest level of service to each other as colleagues through:

• prompt, accurate, unbiased and courteous responses to all requests. This includes listening carefully, being friendly and welcoming, and being helpful and efficient;
• taking responsibility for the library’s service as a whole. This includes not attributing blame one to the other, ensuring each part works cooperatively with the other parts of the system, and ensuring each part works to the highest standard possible;
• supporting the career development of colleagues

Privacy

• Library staff protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.
• Library staff collect information about individuals only within the provisions of the Privacy Act 1993.

Intellectual Freedom

• Library staff uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources.
• Books and other library resources are provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people within the university community. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation, as long as such works meet the criteria for selection as set out in the Library’s Collection Development Policy.
• The Library provides materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• The Library challenges censorship in the fulfilment of their responsibility to provide information and knowledge.

Intellectual Property Rights

• Library staff recognize and respect intellectual property rights. Examples of problems include: plagiarism in information literacy assignments (downloading large portions of text from electronic information sources); excessive copying that breaches the provisions for fair dealing for the purposes of research in the Copyright Act 1994.

Good Employer/Employee Principles

• Library staff treat co-workers and other colleagues with respect, fairness and good faith, and advocate conditions of employment that safeguard the rights and welfare of all employees.
• Library staff avoid behaviour that might cause distress to other employees or otherwise cause or contribute to disruption in the workplace.
• Library staff obey the law and will obey lawful and reasonable instruction.
• Library staff show reasonable care and due regard for the safety of others in their use of University property or resources.
• Library staff are competent and efficient in the performance of their duties.
• Library staff abide by University and Library policies.

Continuing Professional Education

• Library staff strive for excellence in their work by maintaining and enhancing their knowledge and skills, and by encouraging the professional development of co-workers.

Professional Duties v. Personal Convictions

• Library staff distinguish between their personal convictions and professional duties and do not allow their personal beliefs to interfere with the fair representation of the aims of their institution or the provision of access to its information resources.

Private Needs v. Institution's Needs

• Library staff do not advance private interests at the expense of library users, colleagues, or their employer, the University of Canterbury.

Information Technology Codes of Conduct

• Library staff use information technology in accordance with the codes of practice established by the University of Canterbury.

Bibliography