What Would Babara Do?

Identification

This assignment is based on Applied Ethics. The case study is based on Barbara. Barbara is professional librarian at the Marsville Public Library. Barbara believes strongly in the librarian code of ethics which protects access to information. Barbara was on duty when a visitor named as Bob entered into library. Bob approached Barbara for help on certain topic about which Bob was not clear. Barbara believed in providing the all required information to visitors so she facilitated Bob in all terms. But the unexpected actions and movements of Bob forced Barbara to wonder for days if she had done the right thing in helping Bob and in not keeping his name.

Barbara was dubious about the activities of Bob that whether he is working on the school assignment or not. Several months later, a newspaper article appeared citing a susceptible but averted chemical attack on the Marsville municipal water supply. Barbara is confused that what she must do now in terms of fulfilling the librarian code of ethics.

Research

Librarians like Barbara who provide legal and medical reference service have distinctive problems. They must provide information without applying or interpreting it, for if they do, they may find themselves accused of practicing law or medicine without a license. On occasion, the line between provision and advice is not clear: provision could be an act of interpretation. Further, librarians must balance the legal requirement of a patient's informed consent with the selection and provision decisions that are determined by the patient's physician. Such situations may result in a conflict between potentially competing ethical contracts (librarian-patient, librarian-doctor/administration). The main problems of the modern library and information service users are the ethical issues of access to information, the principle of confidentiality of information activity, and censorship (Nelson, pp.187).

The Code of Ethics applies to all types' librarian, public or private open to the public. It applies to all libraries whatever the specifics, the status or position in the hierarchy. It is intended to inspire librarians in their daily work as well as in their general action. It establishes the duties of librarian particularly in the absolute respect of who come every user action and asserts its demand for recognition of professional responsibility in particular with regard to elected officials. The librarian is responsible for its public or private community to meet the needs of the community in terms of culture, information, education and recreation. It is to this end public collections, ensures the development and use citizens. The case summarizes the main duties of Barbara as follows:

Respect all users

Give everyone equal treatment

Guarantee the confidentiality of use

Respond to every request

Ensure the conditions of intellectual freedom by freedom of reading

Ensure free access of users to information without leaving their own opinions interferes

Allow access to information respecting the greatest possible openness, free, equal and free, without prejudice to its future use

Analysis

The case study reflects that Barbara is a professional librarian but she is still confused about her duties and responsibilities. For a professional Liberian, professional ethics ...