The Code of Ethics and Ethics in Library Institutions

Did you know in todays society there are situations and conditions that would violate the American Library Association Code of Ethics (ALA Council, 2008). For instance, with the interaction with the FBI, CIA, Police Department, and Homeland Security on issues concerning terrorism and terrorist, it makes it hard to say no when an inspector comes in looking for information, knowing that maybe the person they are looking for isn't on the list, but they know of people who have been checking out similar books. What would you do in this situation? What are the Ethics? Well, technically according to the American Library Association Bill of Rights, an individual isn't suppose to be limited their selection of books cause of color, race, creed, or prejudice cause they are searching on a topic that relates to terrorism. Though at the same time, if the FBI comes in with a court order for information; what would you do? You hand over the information just on those individuals listed, or do you hand over more then requested due to the nature of the case? Cause technically in the American Bill of Rights, they are innocent until proven guilty under due process of law, but according to the Patriot Act they are liable for searches and warrants just if they possess documents connecting them to terrorist.

So If a Librarian, was to hand over information pertaining to a patron that's not on the list, she is incriminating that patron, and violating that patron's rights as a citizen, under the Code of Ethics, and Privacy in their American Library Association Bill of Rights. Then again, doesn't that violate the American Bill of rights as well? Their right to privacy is violated, but according to the Patriot Act we don't have privacy cause of terrorism, and terrorist come first not our rights as citizens.

This is an example of ethics library institutions might encounter on a daily basis, whether business, academic, special, or school oriented. There is always individuals seeking information, and that information according to the American Library Association Bill of Rights and Code of Ethics keeps them safe from being "outsed" of information to the general public (ALA Council, 2004; ALA Council 2008; Rubin, 2004). . But the Government is not the public, and there for in this time of terrorism, and threat there is warranted the excuse for handing over private information.

In summary, living in the United State seems we have our rights around us. But when we get down to the basics, we don't have any (Cole, 2004; Priester, 2005).

Arielle

References

ALA Council. (2008). Code of Ethics of the American Library Association. American Library Association.

ALA Council. (2004, January 24). Library Bill of Rights. Retrieved March 4, 2008, from American Library Association: http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/statementsif/librarybillrights.htm

Cole, D. (2004). The Priority of Morality: The Emergency Constitution's Blind Spot.(response to Bruce Ackerman in this Issue, p. 1029). Yale Law Journal , 1-48.

National Archives and Records Administration. (1791, December 15). The Constitution of the United States: The Bill of Rights.

Priester, B. J. (2005). Return of the Great Writ: Judical Review, Due Process, and the Detention of Alleged Terrorist as Enemy Combatants. Rutger Law Journal , 1-60.