School of Information and Library Science
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

INLS 584, Information Ethics
Fall 2011

Professional Codes of Ethics

Key Readings

Doyle, T. (2002). A critical discussion of "The ethical presuppositions behind the Library Bill of Rights". Library Quarterly, 72(3), 275-293. [UNC libraries]

Foster, C., & McMenemy, D. (2012). Do librarians have a shared set of values? A comparative stud yof 36 codes of ethics based on Gorman's Enduring Values. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 44(4), 249-262. [UNC libraries]

Koehler, W. (2003). The organizations that represent information professionals: Form, function, and professional ethics. In Rockenbach, B., & Mendina, T. (eds.), Ethics and Electronic Information: A Festschrift for Stephen Almagno. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 59-73. [SILS - Z665 .E83 2003]

Koehler, W. (2004). Professional information organizations and their ethics codes: A quantitative review. In Mendina, T., & Britz, J. J. (eds.), Information Ethics in the Electronic Age: Current Issues in Africa and the World. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 65-72. [SILS - Z665 .I5795 2004]

Martin, M., & Schinzinger, R. (1995). Codes of ethics. In Johnson, D. G. & Nissenbaum, H. (Eds.), Computers, Ethics, and Social Values. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 576-580. [Davis - QA76.9 .A25 C6665 1995]

Newton, L. (1998). The origin of professionalism: sociological conclusions and ethical implications. In Stichler, R. N., & Hauptman, R. (Eds.), Ethics, Information, and Technology: Readings. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 261-272. [Davis - P94 .E795 1998]

Payne, D., & Landry, B.J.L. (2006). A uniform code of ethics: Business and IT professional ethics. Communications of the ACM, 49(11), 81-84. [ACM Digital Library]

Shachaf, P. (2005). A global perspective on library association codes of ethics. Library & Information Science Research, 27(4), 513-533. [UNC libraries]

Weckert, J., & Adeney, D. (1997). Professional ethics. In Computer and Information Ethics. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 17-26. [SILS – QA76.9 .M65 W43 1997]

Wengert, R. B. (2001). Some ethical aspects of being an information professional. Library Trends, 49(3), 486-509. [UNC libraries]

Scenarios of Ethical Decision

Buchanan, E.A., & Henderson, K.A. (2009). Cases #5.1-5.25. In Case Studies in Library and Information Science Ethics. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 99-117. [SILS - Z682.35 .P75 B83 2009]

Professional Codes of Ethics

American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)

AALL Ethical Principles. Approved by the AALL Membership, March 1999. (1998). American Association of Law Libraries. http://www.aallnet.org/about/policy_ethics.asp.

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

AHIMA Code of Ethics. (2004, July 1). http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok1_024277.hcsp?dDocName=bok1_024277.

American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC)

AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice. (1994, August). American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works. http://www.conservation-us.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&PageID=858&E:\ColdFusion9\verity\Data\dummy.txt.

American Library Association (ALA)

American Library Association Code of Ethics. (1995, June 28). American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/proethics/codeofethics/codeethics.cfm. Reprinted in Stichler, R. N., & Hauptman, R. (Eds.). (1998). Ethics, Information, and Technology: Readings. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 307-308. [Davis - P94 .E795 1998]

American Library Association, Office for Intellectual Freedom. Intellectual Freedom Manual. 5th ed. Chicago: American Library Association. [SILS Reference - Z711.4 .I57 1996]

Appendix A: The 1939 Code of Ethics for Librarians; Statements on Professional Ethics, 1975, 1981; The 1995 Code of Ethics. In Alfino, M., & Pierce, L. (1997). Information Ethics for Librarians. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. [SILS - Z682.35 .P75 A44 1997]

Library Bill of Rights. (1996, January 23). American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/index.cfm. Reprinted in Stichler, R. N., & Hauptman, R. (Eds.). (1998). Ethics, Information, and Technology: Readings. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 308. [Davis - P94 .E795 1998]

American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)

A Code of Professional Ethical Conduct for AMIA. (2008). American Medical Informatics Association. http://www.amia.org/about-amia/bylaws-and-policies/code-ethics.

American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIST)

ASIS Professional Guidelines. Adopted 5/30/92. (1998, July 31). American Society for Information Science & Technology. http://www.asis.org/AboutASIS/professional-guidelines.html.

Barnes, R. F. (1990). The making of an ethics code. Bulletin of ASIS, 16(6), 24-25. [SILS]
Also includes ASIS Code of Ethics for Information Professionals, Draft 6/12/90.

Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL)

Standards for Ethical Conduct for Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Librarians, with Guidelines for Institutional Practice in Support of the Standards. College and Research Library News (C&RLNews), 54(4), April 1993.

Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

ACM code of ethics and professional conduct. (1992, October 16). Association for Computing Machinery. http://www.acm.org/constitution/code.html. Reprinted in Johnson, D. G. & Nissenbaum, H. (Eds.). (1995). Computers, Ethics, and Social Values. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 598-605. [Davis - QA76.9 .A25 C6665 1995]; Ermann, M. D., Williams, M. B., & Shauf, M. S. (Eds.). (1997). Computers, Ethics, and Society. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 314-322. [Davis - QA76.9 .C66 C6575 1997]; Spinello, R. A. (1997). Case Studies in Information and Computer Ethics. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 270-278. [Davis - QA76.9 .M65 S65 1997]; Johnson, D. G., & Snapper, J. W. (1985). Ethical Issues in the Use of Computers. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 31-36. [Davis - QA76.9 .M65 E84 1985]

Anderson, R. E. (1994). The ACM Code of Ethics: history, process, and implications. In Huff, C., & Finholt, T. (1994). Social Issues in Computing: Putting Computing in its Place. New York: McGraw-Hill, 48-71. [Davis - QA76.9 .C66 S62 1994] (includes the text of the Code)

Anderson, R. E., Johnson, D. G., Gotterbarn, D., & Perrolle, J. (1993). Using the ACM code of ethics in decision making. Communications of the ACM, 36(2), 98-107. [ACM Digital Library] Reprinted in Ermann, M. D., Williams, M. B., & Shauf, M. S. (Eds.). (1997). Computers, Ethics, and Society. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 323-333. [Davis - QA76.9 .C66 C6575 1997]

Gotterbarn, D., Miller, K., & Rogerson, S. (1999). Software engineering code of ethics is approved. Communications of the ACM, 42(10), 102-107. [ACM Digital Library]

Martin, C. D. (1994). Thematic analysis of the new ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Computers & Society, 24(2), 21-26. [ACM Digital Library]

Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and IEEE Computer Society

Gotterbarn, D., Miller, K., & Rogerson, S. (1999). Software engineering code of ethics is approved. Communications of the ACM, 42(10), 102-109. [ACM Digital Library]

Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)

Code of Ethics. (2001) Association for Educational Communications and Technology. http://www.aect.org/About/Ethics.htm.

Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP)

Code of Ethical Business Practice. (2002, April 20). Association of Independent Information Professionals. http://www.aiip.org/CodeOfEthics.

AIIP Statement of Policy Concerning Intellectual Property Rights. (2002, April 21). Association of Independent Information Professionals. http://www.aiip.org/IntellectualPropertyPolicy.

Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP); formerly the Data Processing Management Association (DPMA)

Code of Ethics. (1997). Association of Information Technology Professionals. http://www.aitp.org/?page=Ethics.

Standard of Conduct. (2002). Association of Information Technology Professionals. http://www.aitp.org/?page=ConductStandards.

DPMA Code of Ethics, Standards of Conduct and Enforcement Procedures. (1983). In Johnson, D. G., & Snapper, J. W. (1985). Ethical Issues in the Use of Computers. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 22-30. [Davis - QA76.9 .M65 E84 1985]

Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA)

The Code of Professional Responsibility. (1995). ARMA International. http://www.arma.org/about/overview/ethics.cfm.

A Bloggers' Code of Ethics

A Bloggers' Code of Ethics. (2003, April 15). CyberJournalist.net. http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/000215.php.

Li, C. (2004, Nov. 8). Blogging policy examples. Groundswell. http://blogs.forrester.com/groundswell/2004/11/blogging_policy.html.

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)

HIMSS Business Conduct Guidelines for Healthcare IT. (2007, December 10). http://www.himss.org/content/files/HIMSSBusinessConductGuidelines.pdf.

Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals

Codes of Ethics and Good Practices. (1977). In Johnson, D. G., & Snapper, J. W. (1985). Ethical Issues in the Use of Computers. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 39-42. [Davis - QA76.9 .M65 E84 1985]

Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM)

Code of Ethics. (n.d.) Institute of Certified Records Managers. http://www.icrm.org/about/code-of-ethics/.

Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE)

IEEE Code of Ethics. (1990). Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers. http://www.ieee.org/portal/pages/iportals/aboutus/ethics/code.html. Reprinted in Spinello, R. A. (1997). Case Studies in Information and Computer Ethics. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 279. [Davis - QA76.9 .M65 S65 1997]; Johnson, D. G., & Snapper, J. W. (1985). Ethical Issues in the Use of Computers. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 37-38. [Davis - QA76.9 .M65 E84 1985]

Gotterbarn, D., Miller, K., & Rogerson, S. (1997). Software engineering code of ethics. Communications of the ACM, 40(11), 110-118. [ACM Digital Library]

International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium

(ISC)2 Code of Ethics. (n.d.) https://www.isc2.org/cgi/content.cgi?category=12

Medical Library Association (MLA)

Code of Ethics for Health Sciences Librarianship. (1994). Medical Library Association. http://www.mlanet.org/about/ethics.html.

Society of American Archivists (SAA)

A Code of Ethics for Archivists. (2005). Society of American Archivists. http://www.archivists.org/governance/handbook/app_ethics.asp.

Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP)

SCIP Code of Ethics for CI Professionals. (n.d.) Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals. http://www.scip.org/About/content.cfm?ItemNumber=578&navItemNumber=504.

Usability Professionals' Association (UPA)

UPA Code of Professional Conduct. (2005, September). Usability Professionals' Association. http://www.usabilityprofessionals.org/about_upa/leadership/code_of_conduct.html.

Additional Readings Discussing Ethical Codes of the Information Professions

Berleur, J., & Brunnstein, K. (1996). Ethics of Computing: Codes, Spaces for Discussion and Law. London: Chapman & Hall, for IFIP. [SILS - QA76.9 .M65 E845 1996]

Carr, D.W. (2003). An ethos of trust in information service. In Rockenbach, B., & Mendina, T. (eds.), Ethics and Electronic Information: A Festschrift for Stephen Almagno. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 45-52. [SILS - Z665 .E83 2003]

Dole, W. V., & Hurych, J. M. (2001). Values for librarians in the information age. Journal of Information Ethics, 10(2), 38-50. [UNC libraries]

Froehlich, T. J. (1992). Ethical considerations of information professionals. In Williams, M. E. (Ed.), Annual Review of Information Science and Technology, Vol. 27. Medford, NJ: Learned Information, 291-324. [SILS Reference - Z699 .A1 A65]

Gotterbarn, D. (1995). The moral responsibility of software developers: three levels of professional software engineering. Journal of Information Ethics, 4(1), 54-64. [SILS]

Harrington, S. J. (1996). The effect of codes of ethics and personal denial of responsibility on computer abuse judgments and intentions. MIS Quarterly, 20(3), 257-78. [UNC libraries]

Hart, H. L. A. (1995). Responsibility and retribution. In Johnson, D. G. & Nissenbaum, H. (Eds.), Computers, Ethics, and Social Values. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 514-525. [Davis - QA76.9 .A25 C6665 1995]

Johnson, D. G. (1995). Professional ethics. In Johnson, D. G. & Nissenbaum, H. (Eds.), Computers, Ethics, and Social Values. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 559-572. [Davis - QA76.9 .A25 C6665 1995]

Koehler, W. C., Jr. (2003). The organizations that represent information professionals: form, function, and professional ethics. In Rockenback, B., & Mendina, T. (eds.), Ethics and Electronic Information: A Festschrift for Stephen Almagno. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 59-73. [SILS - Z665 .E83 2003]

Koehler, W. C., & Pemberton, J. M. (2000). A search for core values: towards a model code of ethics for information professionals. Journal of Information Ethics, 9(1), 26-54. [SILS]

Kultgen, J. (1998). The ideological use of professional codes. In Stichler, R. N., & Hauptman, R. (Eds.), Ethics, Information, and Technology: Readings. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 273-290. [Davis - P94 .E795 1998]

Martin, C. D., & Martin, D. H. (1990). Comparison of ethics codes of computer professionals. Social Science Computer Review, 9(1), 96-108. [Davis - H61.3 .S6]

O'Boyle, E. J. (2002). An ethical decision-making process for computing professionals. Ethics and Information Technology, 4(4), 267-277. [UNC libraries]

Oz, E. (1994). Ethical codes of professional organizations. In Ethics for the Information Age. Dubuque, IA: Business & Educational Technologies, 125-176. [SILS - T58.5 .O9 1994]

Oz, E. (1992). Ethical standards for information systems professionals: a case for a unified code. MIS Quarterly, 16(4), 423-33. [UNC libraries]

Rubin, R.(1996). Moral distancing and the use of information technologies: the seven temptations. In Kizza, J. M. (ed.), Social and Ethical Effects of the Computer Revolution. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 124-135. [Davis - QA76.9 .C66 S618 1996]

Sawyer, D. C. (1995). Reference librarians in private practice: ethical issues in the transition from employee to self-employment. Journal of Information Ethics, 4(2), 52-59. [SILS]

Sawyer, F. H. (1984). What should professional societies do about professional ethics? Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering, 110(2), 88-99. Reprinted in Johnson, D. G., & Snapper, J. W. (1985). Ethical Issues in the Use of Computers. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 43-50. [Davis - QA76.9 .M65 E84 1985]

Shachaf, P. (2005). A global perspective on library association codes of ethics. Library & Information Science Research, 27(4), 513-533. [UNC libraries]

Sturgeon, R.L. (2007). Laying down the law: ALA's ethics codes. American Libraries, 38(10), 56-57. [UNC libraries]

Readings on Whistleblowing

Bok, S. (1997). The morality of whistle-blowing. In Ermann, M. D., Williams, M. B., & Shauf, M. S. (Eds.), Computers, Ethics, and Society. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 271-279. [Davis - QA76.9 .C66 C6575 1997]

Bok, S. (1980). Whistleblowing and professional responsibilities. In Callahan, D., & Bok, S. (Eds.), Ethics Teaching in Higher Education. New York: Plenum Press, 277-295. [Davis, UL - BJ66 .E84]

Scenarios of Ethical Decisions

Leveson, N. G., & Turner, C. S. (1993, July). An investigation of the THERAC-25 accidents. Computer, 18-41. [M/P] Reprinted in Johnson, D. G. & Nissenbaum, H. (Eds.). (1995). Computers, Ethics, and Social Values. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 474-514. [Davis - QA76.9 .A25 C6665 1995]

Oz, E. (1994). Data alteration. In Ethics for the Information Age: Cases. Dubuque, IA: Business & Educational Technologies, 3-4. [SILS - T58.5 .O9 1994 c.2]

Oz, E. (1994). Conflicts and priorities. In Ethics for the Information Age: Cases. Dubuque, IA: Business & Educational Technologies, 9-10. [SILS - T58.5 .O9 1994 c.2]

Oz, E. (1994). Confidentiality. In Ethics for the Information Age: Cases. Dubuque, IA: Business & Educational Technologies, 49-51. [SILS - T58.5 .O9 1994 c.2]

Spinello, R. A. (1997). Case 8.2, The Therac-25. In Case Studies in Information and Computer Ethics. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 198-203. [Davis - QA76.9 .M65 S65 1997]


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