Resource type

Harvard
referencing

What is it about?

Currency

Accuracy

Relevance

Scope

Objectivity / Bias

Location

Was it a good
resource?

Professional Association reference (ALIA)

Australian Library and Information Association 2015, Statement on free access to
information, Australian Library and Information Association, viewed 28 March
2016,
<https://www.alia.org.au/about-alia/policies-standards-andguidelines/statement-free-access-information>.
This webpage contains the ALIA (Australian Library and Information
Association) statement on free access to information. It adopts the principle
that freedom can be protected in a democratic society only if individuals have
unrestricted access to information and ideas. This is outlined in seven dot
points.
The document was first adopted in 2001 and has since been amended in 2007
and 2015.
ALIA is a national professional organisation for the Australian library and
information services sector. It is an internationally recognised body that seeks
to enhance the delivery of quality library and information services to the
nation, through leadership, advocacy and mutual professional support. This
is an organisational website which is easy to use, well written and up to date.
This webpage, developed by professionals within the library and information
industry provides a compact and concise set of responsibilities libraries have
with regards to supporting and sustaining the free flow of information. ALIA
is a respected organisation and it is reasonable to assume that their guidelines
are followed wherever practical by libraries. This webpage is written for
people already in or hoping to join the library industry.
This web page is targeted at library and information professionals. It can be
downloaded onto two pages and is laid out to be read easily. It can be
understood by people of high school age or older but is targeted at people
within the industry. This makes it a good, concise example of information
ethics.
This web page promotes and supports free and unrestricted access to
information for all Australians and people in Australia.
This information has been developed by ALIA for library and information
service professionals within Australia. There are no links to other associations
policies on this web page so it is reasonable to assume this relates to Australia
only.
This information is a good resource. It sums up the professional ethics library
workers should abide by to promote the free flow of information. This should
assist in identifying the main ethics required for the project and highlight
other areas of interest.

Resource type

Harvard
referencing

What is it about?

Currency

Accuracy

Relevance

Scope

Objectivity / Bias

Professional Association reference (IFLA)

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions 2012, IFLA
code of ethics for librarians and other information workers (full version),
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, viewed 28
March 2016, <http://www.ifla.org/news/ifla-code-of-ethics-for-librariansand-other-information-workers-full-version>.
This web page contains the IFLA (International Federation of Library
Associations and Institutions) Code of Ethics for Librarians and other
Information Workers. It is divided into 6 key areas including neutrality, access
to information and responsibilities towards individuals and society.
This web page is dated 12 August 2012, making it four years old. It can be
assumed that the web page is still current as the overarching link Professional
Codes of Ethics for Librarians was last updated 14 March 2016. Exploration of
the website also shows numerous references to documents uploaded in 2015
and 2016 so it is reasonable to assume that the site is kept up to date.
IFLA is the leading international body representing the interests of library
and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library
and information profession. All authors in the working group who prepared
the web page are listed and links to other works by them are provided. Four
references are also provided for further study. This is an organisational
website that well written and up to date.
This web page is a combination of research and conduct ethics within the
library profession. Not all of the information on this web page will be relevant
to the project however there is some very relevant points made that should
not be overlooked.
This web page is targeted at library and information professionals. It can be
only be read online but is laid out well and can be read easily under
appropriate headings. It can be understood by people of high school age or
older but is targeted at people already within the industry. This resource
makes good, professional references to the importance of ethics with in the
profession.
This web page promotes a code of ethics which has been developed by a
workgroup of library and information professionals. This web page refers to
the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) as a
justification for their views.

Location

This information has been developed by an IFLA work group for library and
information service professionals worldwide. The work group is made up of
five people in five different countries.

Was it a good
resource?

This is a good resource as it speaks for 150 countries however not all the
information in the web page is relevant. There is a great reference to the
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) which is the
base of all freedom of information arguments.

Resource type

Journal Article (Libri)

Harvard
referencing

Lor, PJ & Britz, JJ 2011, New trends in content creation: changing

responsibilities for librarians, Libri: International Journal of Libraries &
Information Services, vol. 61, pp. 12-22.

What is it about?

The article is addressing the changes in the role of librarians due to the
introduction of new forms of digital content. The main focus is on the ways in
which these changes have affected the moral responsibilities of librarians. It is
argued that there should be a form of shared and distributed responsibility,
which should include not only librarians, but also Internet service providers,
library users, and software designers.

Currency

This article has a publish date of March 2011. This article is made available by
the State Library via EBSCOhost. Many of the copyright dates of the listed
references a in the late 2000s.

Accuracy

The authors of this article are both professors for universities in South Africa
and Wisconsin-Milwaukee USA. There article is supported by many recent
and reputable references representing many different countries.

Relevance

This article argues the importance of library ethics and ethic within libraries
of the 21st century. It argues that as the focus of libraries change so must the
ethical responsibilities. The article has been written for professionals but can
be understood by people in a tertiary environment and would give
perspective to the project. The information is relevant in a shifting and border
definition of the term research.

Scope

The article has been written by and for professionals within the industry but
can be understood by people in a tertiary environment. This is an in-depth,
well cited paper that can be read in confidence.

Objectivity / Bias

This article is bias toward to argument that moral and ethical responsibilities
need to shift to include not only librarians, but also Internet service
providers, library users, and software designers.

Location

The information has been written by people who are professors in the USA
and South Africa. They note library associations Code of Ethics from
America, Canada, Australia and Great Britain indicating a global perspective.

Was it a good
resource?

This is a good resource that I think would have been ground breaking when
published as it is extremely relevant and still an argument not widely
considered or officially embraced.

Resource type

Journal article (College & Research Libraries)

Harvard
referencing

Strittmatter, C & Bratton, VK 2014, Plagiarism awareness among students:

assessing integration of ethics theory into library instruction, College &
Research Libraries, vol. 75, issue 5, pp. 736-752.

What is it about?

Currency

Accuracy

Relevance

Scope

Plagiarism Awareness among Students: Assessing Integration

of Ethics Theory into Library Instruction. This article discusses the results of
studies into discipline based ethics education and the role librarians play in
developing students ethical attitudes toward academic integrity.
This document is dated September 1, 2014 according the document itself and
EBSCOhost via the National Library.
Many of the references have the copyright date of 2012 it is therefore
reasonable to assume that the document is current and at the most 4 years old.
Both authors credentials are listed along with contact emails addresses. The
article refers to several studies conducted by relevant people and includes
data and tables resulting from tests and surveys taken regarding the topic.
This article is relevant as it argues the importance of professionals within the
library industry taking on more of a role in making people aware of ethics
with regards to research and study. The information written is at an advanced
level but is relevant to the project.
The article has been written for academics and is an in-depth and detailed
analysis of student understanding of plagiarism, ethics and how libraries
should do more to help them understand. This information has been well
written for their intended audience but can be difficult to follow for anyone
outside of the industry.

Objectivity / Bias

This article clearly outlines librarians responsibilities with regards to teaching

students about ethics and integrity but argues that there is more that needs to
be done.

Location

This article focuses on American University students and libraries.

Was it a good
resource?

This is a good article to be read along with other resources. While this is a
very in-depth study it has a narrow perspective that needs to be considered
objectively.

Resource
type

Harvard
referenci
ng

What is it
about?

Currency

Accuracy

Relevanc
e

Conference Paper (IFLA/FAIFE Satellite Meeting)

Cooke, L, Spacey, R, Muir, A & Creaser, C 2014, Filtering access to the internet in
public libraries: an ethical dilemma? in Preisig, AV, Rosch, H & Stuckelberger, C
(eds), Ethical Dilemmas in the Information Society: codes of ethics for librarians and archivists,
Globethics.Net, pp. 181-194, viewed 30 March 2016,
<http://www.globethics.net/documents/4289936/13403236/GE_Global_11_web_fina
l.pdf/0b8e3552-62e4-4495-a576-2f341326891b>.
This paper looks at the argument of whether or not internet in public libraries should
be filtered. For an industry that rejects the notion of censorship it appears to accept the
strong use of filtering. This chapter discusses studies that have been undertaken to find
ways of reducing filtering but still protecting the public from illegal materials.
This document is dated November 2014 and most of the references have a copyright
date within the last 5 years of the piece being written. There is reference to a study that
was being conducted but not completed at the time which does date the piece as the
results would now be published.
The authors list of references is current and relevant at the time of writing however the
authors have no credentials listed. The document refers to facts and library association
documents and the text is well written. While there are no credentials listed it is
reasonable to assume that the document is well researched and accurate.
This document is relevant to the project as it presents a new aspect in the definition of
ethical research since most research is now performed on the internet.
This document is written to be understood by any one from high school age and
onwards.

Scope

This information is targeted at anyone from high school or older, the information is
easy to understand and follow and is well laid out, well cited.

Objectivi
ty / Bias

This document is well rounded. It presents the argument that filtering the internet can
be seen as censorship but also presents surveys that shows most of the public are not
concerned by the filtering. The document raise questions but ultimately lets the reader
come to their own decision.

Location

By searching the reference list a lot of the material has been gathered mostly from the
UK and Europe. The website Globethics.net is a global foundation but recognises that
the initiative is especially important for people in Africa, Asia and Latin-America.

Was it a
good
resource?

This is a good non-bias document that very openly accepts that while research ethics is
something library professional need to be concerned about, the general public is
perhaps not concerned. A good way of putting it is that if a librarys ethics are correct,
the public wont even know the difference.

Resource type

Journal Article (The Australian Library Journal)

Harvard
referencing

Duthie, F 2010, Libraries and the ethics of censorship, The Australian Library
Journal, vol. 59:3, pp. 85-94.

What is it about?

*Currency

Accuracy

Relevance

Scope

Objectivity / Bias

This paper reviews a selection of literature pertaining to the subject of

censorship in modern libraries. The paper includes reviews of professional
association codes and statements and evaluates opinions regarding the use of
internet filters.
This article was received by The Australian Library Journal in March 2010,
however the Australian Library and Information Association decided in 2013
that the paper was still relevant and published it in July 2013. This is a good
indication that within the three years that ALIA had the article the
information and arguments were still valid and relevant, but should still be
read with the original date in mind.
The information provided is supported by a current and detailed reference list
as well as the authors credentials noted at the end of the paper. The paper also
states that this paper has been double-blind peer reviewed to meet the
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR) HERDC
requirements.
This paper presents a balanced insight into the concerns and history
surrounding censorship of information and literature censorship and the
ethics of it. The information is well written, cited and easy to follow that
anyone of a tertiary or higher education could understand.
The author is a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Library and Information
Management , the information has been written for people within the library
profession however the language and use of words make it easy for anyone
with an interest in the subject to follow.
This is a non-bias paper that looks at the past, present and future of
censorship with in libraries and the access to literature and information. The
piece doesnt lead the reader to any conclusions, it simply lays out the
information for readers to consider.

Location

The author is Australian and the paper has been published in an Australian
journal. Most of the references come from Australia, America and England,
there is little to no input from Europe or Asia.

Was it a good
resource?

Even though this was written out of the five year period I feel that if ALIA
found it relevant in 2013 then who am I to judge. This is a great example of a
non-bias paper looking into the past as well as the present and future
regarding the topic of ethics and censorship.

Resource type

Journal Article (Library Philosophy and Practice)

Harvard
referencing

Mbofung, U & Popoola, S 2014, Legal and ethical issues of information

service delivery and library information science professionals in university
libraries in Nigeria, Library Philosophy and Practice, paper 1183.

What is it about?

Currency

Accuracy

Relevance

Scope

This article is focused on the changes in knowledge and ethical acquisitions

faced by library and information professionals and their social
responsibilities. This article examines the awareness of some of the principles
endorsed in the professional codes and whether the library and information
science professionals in federal universities in Nigeria are practicing them in
information service delivery.
This article was written on the 30 September 2014 and is less than two years
old. There is no indication of the article being updated or revised however
given the date the article was written is it fair to assume that the information
is very current and needs no revision.
The authors of the article have not listed their credentials but have provided
email addresses as a point of contact. Many of the references noted have been
published within the last 16 years and several studies and tables have been
referred to. There are a few grammatical errors which could be due to English
being the authors second language and should not be a cause for concern as
the e-journal the article is part of is published by a University.
This article focuses predominantly on library staffs understanding of ethical
principles within their industry however this information can be translated to
how that would therefore impact the users of the libraries. This article could
be seen as too academic for this assignment.
This information is written for highly academic professionals within a
University environment. Not much of this information is relevant for the
project but does provide an insight into how other countries operate within
the same profession.

Objectivity / Bias

There is no bias in this article as it is just a presentation of information pooled

together from several studies. It does draw a conclusion and recommendation
but does not summarise or take sides.

Location

This article is based on studies conducted in Nigeria, it does refer to the

American Library Association code of ethics however the information is
focused on the actions of one country.

Was it a good
resource?

This is an OK reference. It provides an insight into the library industry from a

country outside the Australia, USA and the UK which is good to broaden
horizons however the article itself was difficult to read and slightly off subject.

Resource type

Journal Article (Library Philosophy and Practice)

Harvard
referencing

Yaya, JA, Achonna, AU & Osisanwo T 2013, Censorship and the challenges of
library services delivery in Nigeria, Library Philosophy and Practice, paper 1003.

What is it about?

This paper discusses censorship and the challenges of Library services

delivery in Nigeria. While Nigerian Librarians and professional
associations are committed to the principle of free access to
information censorship is still being practiced on material deemed to
be indecent or obscene; heretical or blasphemous; or seditious or
treasonous. Ideas have been suppressed under the guise of protecting
three basic social institutions: the family, the church, and the Nigerian
governments.

Currency

Accuracy

Relevance

Scope

Objectivity / Bias

This paper is dated 30 September 2013. There is no indication of the article

being updated or revised however considering when it was written it is fair to
assume that the information is current and needs no revision. Censorship on
political, military and social forms do not change dramatically over a short
period of time.
The authors of the paper have listed their places of business, being the Yaba
College of Technology and the Department of Library and Information

Science Tai Solarin University of Technology and two authors have

provided email addresses as a point of contact. The references are current and
the website can be trusted as the e-journal the paper is part of is published by
a University.
This paper focuses on the many causes of censorship in Nigeria. It explains
the role of libraries to the community and how important they are but also
how susceptible they are to the many forms of censorship and the ethics
involved.
This information is written for academic professionals within a University
environment or the library information industry. This information is
somewhat relevant for the project in a broader sense of what censorship is and
therefore the ethical issues librarians face with regards to their collections.
This paper is non-bias in its presentation of the sources of censorship faced in
Nigeria however the conclusion and message is clearly enforcing the

principle of free access to information.

Location

This article is based on Nigeria, it does make reference to library codes of

American, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe however the
information is focused on the society and politics of the country of Nigeria.

Was it a good
resource?

This is an interesting reference that describes many forms of censorship

libraries can be subjected to. This paper helps bring a sense of objectivity as it
presents a society where censorship is obvious and acknowledged rather than
subtly in place or blindly denied.

Resource type

Journal Article (Knowledge Quest)

Harvard
referencing

Garnar, M 2015, Ethics today: are our principles still relevant, Knowledge
Quest, vol. 44, issue. 1, pp. 36-41.

What is it about?

Currency

Accuracy

The article focuses on the importance of the ethical principles of school

librarians and discusses the latest developments to the American Library
Association's (ALA) Code of Ethics. The article questions the value of a Code
of Ethics originally adopted and distributed by the American Library
Association the same year as WWII.
This article is less than one year old as it has the issue publication date of
September/October 2015. The publication date can be trusted because several
of the authors credentials include committees he is a member of for the year
2015 and a book he edited in 2015.
The author has a list of credentials at the bottom of his article. The
information has been researched and is cited throughout. The article is from
the professional journal Knowledge Quest produced by the American
Association of School Librarians (AASL).

Relevance

This information refers mostly to the ethics of copyright in school libraries

which is where many students do their research which therefore relates to the
projects topic of ethical research in the library industry.

Scope

This article is intended for professionals within the library industry and
members of the public. The information is written in plain English and can be
understood by anyone interested. This information is not ground breaking
and while it does relate to the project, it is not crucial.

Objectivity / Bias

This article is clearly pushing the importance of copyright ethics and only
presents opinions and facts that support the authors agenda. This can also be
seen by his list of credentials.

Location

The information within the article and from the references are all American
and only covers the American perspective.

Was it a good
resource?

This article is informative and accurate however there is no new information

presented to the reader that they could not find elsewhere. The currency of
the publication and the author are the factors that hold article out of the
crowd.

Resource type

Journal Article (Reference & User Services Quarterly)

Harvard
referencing

Luo, L & Trott, B (ed.) 2016, Ethical issues in reference: an in-depth view from
the librarians perspective, Reference and User Services Quarterly, vol. 55, issue.
3, pp. 189-198.

What is it about?

Currency

Accuracy

Relevance

Scope

Objectivity / Bias

The study examines some ethical issues addressed by reference

professionals within the industry. Some of the topics covered are copyright,
confidentiality and privacy and how reference librarians solve ethical
dilemmas.
This study is very current and was published in the American Spring 2016,
which is Australias Autumn (March, April & May). We can accurately assume
therefore that this article was published in March 2016. The publication
Reference & User Services Quarterly is a division of the American Library
Association
The information is substantiated by the results of a reference librarian survey.
The information gathered has been analysed and channelled into 7 tables and
2 graphs to make the results more digestible.
The information could be used for the project to see how often librarians are
faced with enquiries that have ethical implications and provides readers with
a realistic review of the work environment. The information is written for
professionals however students can understand the information.
The information is written and presented for professionals within the library
industry and policy makers only. The information is not aimed at the general
public however it can be read and understood by anyone above high school
age.
This information is non-bias and has the objective of presenting the facts in
order to help develop ethical guidelines and policies and provide effective
training to help reference librarians successfully handle ethical situations.

Location

The survey which this study is based on has come from America and
therefore the perspective is localised to that one country. It is worth noting
that some of the references are of a more global perspective.

Was it a good
resource?

The tables and graphs help make the information easy to understand and
there are many quotes from real librarians explaining real situations they have
been in. For ethical research in the library industry to be looked into for this
project an understanding must be made of the thought process and actions of
the people helping to find the information.

Resource type

Journal Article (Library Journal)

Harvard
referencing

Anderson, R 2014, Asserting rights we dont have: libraries and permission to

publish, Library Journal, viewed 14 April 2016,
<http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2014/08/opinion/peer-to-peerreview/asserting-rights-we-dont-have-libraries-and-permission-to-publishpeer-to-peer-review/>.

What is it about?

This article is the result of an incident that happened in America where the
library at the University of Arkansas suspended reporters from
the Washington Free Beacon, an online newspaper, from using its special
collections. This article is about the practice of making patrons request library
permission before republishing (in whole or in part) the content drawn from
documents in special collections.

Currency

The article was published in August 2014 and the incident that sparked the
debate happened a few months earlier. All comments have been time and date
stamped for 2014 and it is safe to assume that the published date is accurate.

Accuracy

Relevance

Scope

The author has included a small description about himself and listed his
credentials. There are links provided to the articles and policies referred too
however there is no reference list. This article has been peer reviewed by other
library professionals who also have provided relevant links.
This article provides insight into library ethics in action. It shows the impact
and reality of current library ethics and codes and raises questions as to
whether changes are needed. This is a relevant example written at an
appropriate level for this assignment.
This article or opinion piece is aimed at professionals within the University
library industry but is easily accessible by anyone interested in the topic. An
understanding of intellectual freedom principles would be of benefit to the
reader but links are provided.

Objectivity / Bias

This article is an opinion and as such is pressing the authors objective. The
article does look at policies other libraries have regarding requiring
permission before republishing content from documents in special collections
but ultimately it focuses on his objective.

Location

The incident and resulting articles all surround America and American
university libraries.

Was it a good
resource?

This is an interesting resource that shows real-life applications however I

question its validity due to lack of references and that it is quite one sided.
This is not a paper or study but rather an opinion column type article.

Resource type

Blog (Sense and Reference: a philosophical library blog by Lane Wilkinson)

Harvard
referencing

Wilkinson, L 2012, On ethical reference service (or, Fishmongers? In my

library?), blog post, Sense and Reference, 11 September, viewed 14 April 2016,
<https://senseandreference.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/on-ethicalreference-service/>.

What is it about?

This blog is about ethical reference services and how official library codes of
ethics are not much use at the reference desk. Our professional codes help
qualify our values as librarians, but they arent service-oriented. This article
considers different ways librarians should look at their service models to
provide the most balanced service possible.

Currency

This article was published in September 2012, there are no indications that the
article has been revised or updated.

Accuracy

Relevance

Scope

The article is part of a blog where the author provides his full C.V. that lists
his education, jobs within libraries, teaching career as well as published
materials and conference talks. This article has a list of references and is well
cited throughout.
This is relevant to the project because it introduces a new view about ethical
research in the library industry and where the responsibility blurs between
library ethics and good customer service. The information is easy to
understand and provides links to references and referred articles.
This blog is aimed at anyone with an interest in the library philosophy and
undertakings. The information can be accessed by anyone though would only
interest people of high school age and older.

Objectivity / Bias

The article is written objectively, several different points of view are

considered however there is a sense of being lead to the authors own
conclusion.

Location

The author of the article is American and refers to American codes and
principles but the content of the argument is global.

Was it a good
resource?

This is an interesting resource that raised a point, not mentioned before about
how reference interviews should be treated as a fiduciary relationship and
that there is a difference in the service provided and how that service is
provided.

Resource type

Blog (Sense and Reference: a philosophical library blog by Lane Wilkinson)

Harvard
referencing

What is it about?

Currency

Wilkinson, L 2012, Its not just privacy, porn, and pipe-bombs (Libraries and
the ethics of service), blog post, Sense and Reference, 9 October, viewed 14 April
2016, <https://senseandreference.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/its-not-justprivacy-porn-and-pipe-bombs-libraries-and-the-ethics-of-service/>.
This blog is a written version of a presentation the author made at a university
in America. It is an extended look at the argument that librarianship lacks an
actionable ethics of service for handling the typical librarian/patron
interaction. This blog post includes 69 slides from the presentation.
This post was published in October 2012, there are no indications that the post
has been revised or updated, it is the written version of a presentation so it
shouldnt be revised. The post has been peer reviewed, there is no reference
list but links are provided for further reading.

Accuracy

The article is part of a blog and the author provides his full C.V. that lists his
education, jobs within libraries, teaching career as well as published materials
and conference talks.

Relevance

This is relevant to the project because it follows on nicely from his other blog
post I have referenced but it is also a very well written summary of library
ethics in plain English.

Scope

This blog is aimed at anyone with an interest in the library philosophy and
undertakings. The information can be accessed by anyone though would only
interest people of high school age and older. The use of humour and common
analogies make this great reading.

Objectivity / Bias

The post is written somewhat objectively, however the underlying current is

that of complying with the codes and principles of ethics that are in place. The
post does call for changes to be made however.

Location

The author of this blog is American and refers to American codes and
principles but the content of the argument is global.

Was it a good
resource?

This is a very good and interesting resource as a blog post and would have
made a great presentation at a university. This post is a good extension of the
authors other posts.

Resource type

Conference Paper(IFLA/FAIFE Satellite Meeting)

Harvard
referencing

Luo, L 2014, Ethical issues in reference: challenges and solutions, in

Preisig, AV, Rosch, H & Stuckelberger, C (eds), Ethical Dilemmas in the
Information Society: codes of ethics for librarians and archivists, Globethics.Net,
pp. 167-179, viewed 18 April 2016,
<http://www.globethics.net/documents/4289936/13403236/GE_Global_11
_web_final.pdf/0b8e3552-62e4-4495-a576-2f341326891b>.

What is it about?

This paper provides an in-depth view of the ethical issues in

reference work. The author discusses the results of a widely
distributed survey for reference librarians in America. The questions
probe into issues of training and ethical dilemmas faced.

Currency

This document is dated 2014 and the references have a copyright dates of
2012. This paper is a chapter from the IFLA/FAIFE 2014 Satellite Meeting
which validates the publish date.

Accuracy

The authors credentials are not listed and there are only two references listed
which is very few however the information is supported by the authors own
survey evidence. A lot of the information is made up of collated quotes from
survey results.

Relevance

The information in this paper is relevant for the project as it presents

reference librarians and real situations they face. The information is well laid
out and presented in such a way that it is easily absorbed.

Scope

Objectivity / Bias

This information is targeted at professionals within the Library and

Information Science industry but can be understood by anyone above high
school age. This is a very interesting chapter that would appeal to
professionals and interested people alike.
This is bias from the beginning in that the author already is of the opinion
that the understanding of ethical issues needs to be reevaluated (sic)

and reinterpreted. All quotes provided reflect the authors agenda.

Location

The survey in this study was only distributed within America and was
written with the American Library Associations Code of Ethics as a focus
with other organizations as a side line.

Was it a good
resource?

This is a good resource and is a valuable source for dilemmas faces by

people in the workforce. The author has a strong agenda and readers need to
understand that not all opinions and comments from the survey are reflected
in the paper.

Resource type

Harvard
referencing

What is it about?

Directory (LookSmart)
Adamick, J 2011, Librarian involvement in research ethics: an entry point into
the world of sponsored research, Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship,
Spring, viewed 20 April 2016, <http://www.istl.org/11spring/viewpoint.html>.
This paper is about librarians and their increasing involvement in sponsored
research. An example used throughout the paper is of librarians involvement
in sponsored research and working with faculty on data management. The
paper also focuses on the possibility of partnering librarians in ethics in
science and engineering.

Currency

This paper was written in 2011 and there are no indications of the content
being update or revised.

Accuracy

The author has listed her occupation as a credential. There are several links
provided to other sources and examples as well as an online tutorial. The
information is supported by a list of further reading materials which are all
within 4 years of the publication date. The paper is published on an
organisational website. It is worth noting that the site was last updated early
2014 but is current with all publication issues.

Relevance

Scope

Objectivity / Bias

The information in the paper is relevant to the project and covers a different
aspect of ethical research that librarians can be involved in. The information is
appropriate for the assignment and stresses the importance of ethics and
ethics training as part of the responsible conduct of research.
This information is targeted at science and technology librarians and has been
written with a level of assumed knowledge on the part of the reader. This
information is not for the general public and would be difficult to read for
most people not closely related to the subject matter.
This paper pushes the importance of ethical research and training. There is an
acknowledgement that the paper is an outcome of a related workshop but
states that Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations
expressed in this paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation

Location

There is no specific location mentioned within the paper however librarians

and organisations mentioned are all from America along with the author so it
is reasonable to assume that this paper is localised to America only.

Was it a good
resource?

I found this reference difficult to read and digest because of all the acronyms
and different organisations mentioned. The subject matter is new to me and
this has been written for experience professionals already within the field.

Resource type

Newspaper Article (The Guardian)

Harvard
referencing

What is it about?

Currency

Accuracy

Taylor, M 2013, Hiding your research behind a paywall is immoral, The

Guardian, 17 January, viewed 19 April 2016,
<https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2013/jan/17/open-accesspublishing-science-paywall-immoral>.
This article page is about research papers only being available through paid
access and whether or not it is ethical. It looks at the counter arguments of
article processing charges and their impact on scientists and recommends free
posting open access journals.
This article was published on 17th of January 2013 just one week after internet
activist Aaron Swartz committed suicide after being pursued by federal
prosecutors regarding many cyber offenses notably making articles behind
paywalls freely downloadable. The event make it safe to assume the article
date is correct.
The author lists his credentials as computer programmer and research
associate making him a credible voice on the subject. There are links to
websites and research papers on information, events and opinions mentioned
in the article, it has been peer reviewed many times.

Relevance

Scope

Objectivity / Bias

This is a very relevant article to the project as it is about the core of library
ethics and about embracing, promoting and providing Free Access to
Information.
The information in the article is targeted at research scientists but can be
accessed by the general public. The article provides many links which help
readers to understand where arguments originated to make comprehension
easier.
The article is pushing the agenda of making scientific papers free to all, the
first sentence reads Publishing science behind paywalls is immoral. The
author does consider opposing arguments but is always writing to support his
opinion.

Location

Free open access of scientific papers is a global issue and while some of the
authors references a localised to Britain and America the argument is relevant
to everyone.

Was it a good
resource?

At first I found the article difficult to understand but after a bit of further
reading I saw the importance of what the author was discussing and was able
to re-read and understand the argument.

Resource type

Web Page (Librarian and Researcher Knowledge Space (LARKS))

Harvard
referencing

Librarian and Researcher Knowledge Space 2014, Introduction to research in

library and information science, American Library Association, viewed 19 April
2016, <http://www.ala.org/research/larks/students>.

What is it about?

This web page is for library and information science students and has been
designed as a study aid that covers definitions of research, research
terminology, the philosophy of research approaches, and research ethics.
There are many links to further information and tools for all things about
library and information science.

Currency

There is no publish date for this web page however in the bibliography there
is a reference dated 2014. It can be assumed that the page was written or
updated in 2014 or later. The website has a copyright date of 1996-2016.

Accuracy

No author is listed nor credentials however the page is part of the American
Library Association the oldest and largest library association in the world. It is
fair to assume therefore that it is a reliable resource and there is a contact
email provided for questions.

Relevance

Scope

This web page only touches on the issues of ethical research within the library
industry and is not relevant for this project. The ethics that are mentioned on
the page are based on human research but there is a list of research ethics
resources with links provided for further reading.
This webpage is targeted at library studies and research students and would
not interest the general public. The page provides helpful links for the
intended audience however the presentation and wording is more designed
for professionals.

Objectivity / Bias

This is an objective web pages that provides a wide net of resources for
students.

Location

This is an American organisation however there is no information that cannot

be adopted for a global perspective.

Was it a good
resource?

This is not a very helpful resource for this project. I found the information a
bit pompous and not well written for their intended audience.

Resource type

Association Journal (Pacific Northwest Library Association)

Harvard
referencing

What is it about?

McMullen, L 2015, Conscience and conduct: ethics in the library, PNLA

Quarterly, vol. 79, viewed 21 April 2016,
<http://www.pnla.org/assets/Quarterly/mcmullen_ethics_summer_pq_201
5.pdf>.
This article arises out of ethics training developed for public libraries. The
article covers guiding principles, how to create an ethical culture in the library
and poses questions to think about regarding the ethical response. The article
also offers easy ways to provide ethical training to library staff.

Currency

This article was published in 2015. The Website the article comes from is not
well maintained or up to date however the PLNA Quarterly online articles are
current.

Accuracy

The author of the article is a Consulting Librarian and is also the presenter of
the ethical training talked about in the article. The article is from an
organisational website and includes a reference list, a biography and contact
email for the author.

Relevance

The information is not ground breaking but provides a hands on approach to

ethics training which is lacking in many resources. The information is well
written and easy to understand in relation to the project.

Scope

This article is intended for professionals and managers within the library
industry and is appropriate for the audience. It is written in a way that can be
understood and taught to any one from primary school age onwards.

Objectivity / Bias

This article can been seen as a training guide and therefore is only teaching
and informing people on the information that supports the desired outcome
of the training. There are many open questions that could lead to discussions
with any number of results.

Location

This article make no reference to countries however it is developed in

American and widely taught throughout so it is fair to assume the
information would be based on American codes and principles.

Was it a good
resource?

This is an interesting quick read but does not present any new views or
information. Some of the situations presented in the training, I also received
in training in 2015.

Resource type

Professional Association Website pdf (IFLA)

Harvard
referencing

Farmer, LSJ 2015, Teaching ethics to teens via school library reference services,
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, viewed 21
April 2016, <http://library.ifla.org/1077/1/190-farmer-en.pdf>.

What is it about?

This paper is about the opportunities facing school library reference librarians
with the advances in technology and how to take advantage of a reference
question, turn the experience into a how to for finding information ethically.
The paper suggest casually discussing ethical issues more often than only in a
ridged environment.

Currency

The copyright date 2015. IFLA has to submission date for the paper as June
2015 so it is reasonable to assume that this is a very current article.

Accuracy

The author has stated their career as a credential which is working in a

universitys Advanced Studies in Education and Counseling (sic) department.
The paper is published on the International Federation of Library
Associations and Institutions website which is an established and trusted

association. The author has also provided a list of references.

Relevance

Only a portion of the paper is relevant to the project, however this is a

different perspective on teaching students about ethical research within the
library. This paper talks about making the most of impromptu learning
moments.

Scope

This paper is written for professionals within the school librarian career but
can extend to anyone within in the library industry. The paper is well written
and could be of help to people of upper high school age and onwards.

Objectivity / Bias

As with most articles and studies in this project field this paper only talks of
the benefits and necessities of teaching ethical research. The paper, however is
more focused on presenting the facts rather than imposing opinions.

Location

All of the references listed in the paper are American, however the points the
author has made relate to school and public libraries globally.

Was it a good
resource?

I think this is a good reference, if not a bit long. I found this easy to read and
found the authors writing style refreshing and not imposing.

Resource type

Online Database Resource (Emerald Insight)

Harvard
referencing

Posner, B 2012, The ethics of library resource sharing in the digital age,
Interlending & Document Supply, vol. 40, issue 2, pp. 119-124.

What is it about?

Currency

This paper outlines the ethical implications of the practical challenges facing
resource sharing practitioners in the digital age. The focus is on ILL resource
sharing and the growing number of differing copyright and licensing laws
surround creation, dissemination and preservation of information. The paper
also looks into the need to extend the concept of fair use.
This paper was originally presented at an IFLA conference in September 2011.
It has since been revised in March 2012 and published through Emerald
Group Publishing. All publishing permission is recorded on the paper and it
is fair to assume accuracy.

Accuracy

This paper is extremely well researched and referenced. The reference list
includes links to online versions and the authors credentials and contact
information.

Relevance

This paper is relevant to the project because it covers the matter of ethical
research from the perspective of resource sharing practitioners and their
challenge in accessing and disseminating information for patrons.

Scope

The paper has been written for professionals within the resource sharing
speciality of librarianship. It can be read and understood by anyone of tertiary
education or higher with an interest in the subject. The paper is not straight
forward to access but is available freely online.

Objectivity / Bias

This paper is very well written and covers many aspects of the argument but
the paper is an argument nether the less which is leading the reader to the
same conclusion as the author. Not much consideration is given to publishers.

Location

This author is American however the points raised relate to all Western
libraries globally.

Was it a good
resource?

This is a very professional paper which still managers to be an interesting

read however a bit long. Document delivery within libraries has a lot of
copyright ethics to be considered.