Ethics in School Librarianship: A Reader » (1st Edition)

This textbook for students and professionals addresses a variety of ethical issues in school librarianship. Ten contributions from academics and practitioners discuss such topics as school library access, confidentiality policies, intellectual freedom, and personnel management. Codes of ethics from professional organizations and additional resources are included. The volume is not indexed. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Hilary Crew - VOYA

An "ethical framework" for school library media specialists is constructed through the different chapters by experts in the field, usefully bringing together in one volume discussions of professional ethics that apply to a large range of issues. These include collection development, access, confidentiality, use of technology, intellectual freedom, intellectual property, administration, and Internet use. As Simpson writes, "Reading about ethics is no walk in the park. The issues are thorny, and they can cause discomfort." Some of the thornier topics discussed include biases in the process of selecting materials, the consideration of whether the implementation of computer-based reading programs can violate ethics of access, the consideration of penalties for misuse of Internet access, and ways in which confidentiality can be breached in school library media centers. Of special interest are discussions on the differences between codes of ethics as practiced by teachers and the code of ethics advocated for library professionals, and the implications of codes of ethics for working relationships in the field. Suggestions and guidelines are provided to help the school library media specialist to think through and implement ethical codes. The comprehensive approach and the provision of thought-provoking discussion questions for each chapter make this tool valuable for use in school library media education programs. The issues covered, however, are essential reading for all who work in the field of school librarianship. The ethical codes of the American Library Association and the Association of Communications and Technology are provided in an appendix. 2003, Linworth, 120p.; Source Notes.Appendix., pb. Ages adult professional.