| Albania |
Albanian Library Association
Founded 1993.
Literature:
Tefta Buzo, "The Role of the Albanian Library
Association in Supporting of the Information Society" Libraries, Civil
Societies and Social Development, Proceedings Sofia Conference 2002,
ed. H. Achleitner and A. Dimchev, Sofia 2004: 143-146.
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| Argentina |
The
Code of ethics is proscriptive and prescriptive. It also lists
the responsibilites (deontology) of its members. It addresses the role
and responsibilites of members towrd employers, clients, and other
professional organizations.
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| Australia |
The ACS publishes both a code of ethics and a standard
of conduct statement. The code is prescriptive. Members agree to place
the interests of clients, employers, and employees on par with
themselves and the profession. Members are to maintain skills and to
enhance the profession.
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Australia Library And
Information Association
- The ALIA Code of Ethics is
primarily prescriptive. It consists of five general precepts describing
acceptable librarian practices These are: provide a high level of
service, eschew censorship, protect user privacy, avoid confusing
professional and personal attitudes, and avoid conflicts of interest. An additional link to ALIA's Code of Ethics can be
found at the IFLA Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom
of Expression (FAIFE) Web site. kw
Australian Society of
Archivists Mission
- This society's mission statement is given in a series of
objectives. Among its aims are the promotion of a professional identity
among archivists and the establishment and maintenance of professional
archival standards and conduct. The society also has a code of ethics--
however, it is not published to the web. kw
The organizations's code of ethics describes the
functions of archivisits. The code is prescriptive, proscriptive and
and aspirational.
The Code of Ethics and covers professional conduct,
museam management, responsibilities of various museaum officers,
collection dcevelopment and disposal. It makes note of the variety of
types and purposes of museums. It is prescriptive, proscriptive, and
aspirational.
The RMAA does not publish a Code of Ethics labeled as
such but it does provide a definition of the records manager. That
definition has the quality of an ethics statement. It defines the
responsibilities, duties, and obligations of the records management to
the client and his/her privacy and to the physical protection of the
records. It also outlines the professional qualifications of the
recordsmanager.
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Austria
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Verband Österreichischer Archivarinnen und Archivare
Wiener Stadt- und Landesarchiv
Rathaus
A - 1082 Wien (Vienna)
Ethics code at http://www.magwien.gv.at/ma08/leitbild.htm
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| Botswana |
Founded 1978.The BLA Ethics
statement first explores the need for an ethics document. It then
prescribes and proscribes various practices.Four core areas are
developed: Society, Users, Institution, and Self.
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| Brazil |
CONSELHO
REGIONAL DE BIBLIOTECONOMIA - 7ª REGIÃO
It
is the ethics statement for a regional (seventh region) rather than the
national organization. It is a complex document in nine sections and
nineteen articles. The document is both prescriptive and proscriptive.
It provides obligations, prohibitions, disciplinary actions and
sanctions, compensation guidelines, as well as amending procedures.
Overall, the document provides norms designed to protect the profession
and to manage it.
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| Canada |
The ACA Code of Ethics
is divided into two parts: the Principles and the Application of
Principles. There are six largely aspirational principles that describe
the role of the archivist toward materials and clients. Archivists are
also charged to use their skills "...for the benefit of society as a
whole." The Application elaborates and illustrates the Principles. It
is presented in five parts practices and technique through knowledge
enhancement.
The CHLA maintains a
shared code of ethics with the [American] Medical Library Association.
The Code of Ethics consists of five general categories entitled
"society," "clients," "institution," profession," and "self." The code
is primarily aspirational.The shared code is designed to promote
excellence in health information in North America.
The Code of Ethics
consists of six parts in the form of a pledge to the public, self and
the profession, colleagues, employer and clients, employees, and
students. The standards of conduct document elaborates those six points
and provides a disciplinary process for code and standards violations.
Then following citation codes are based on an examination of the
standards document, which repeats and elaborates the ethics document.
The general terms developed in the code of ethics are aspirational, the
elaboration presented in the standards of conduct are prescriptive and
proscriptive.
The CLA has
issued two position statements on its code of ethics and on
intellectual freedom. The ethics statement references the second and
calls upon its members to honor it. The ethics statement consists of
four general aspirational statements. The intellectual freedom
statement is likewise aspirational and general.
An additional
link to CLA's Code of Ethics can be found at the IFLA Committee on Free
Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) Web site.
kw
The Special Collections Interest
Groups is concerned with rare book and special collections, their
selection, maintenance. access, and deselection. The code of
ethics addresses issues specific to its mandate.
The Canadian Museums Association is a general
purpose organization. Its Code of Ethics is extensive. Its purpose is
to develop a " climate of integrity." It covers various
aspects of professional practice, including the development and
disposal of collections, museum governance, and a range of definitions.
It is prescriptive, proscriptive, and aspirational.
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| Chile |
The Web
site includes both the code of ethics and the statutes of the
organization . The code is a complex document and is in seven parts. It
provides both general and specific provisions of aspirational,
prescriptive, and proscriptive quality.
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| Croatia |
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-
Croatian Library Association
- This
page is in Croatian. kw
English version of the Code of Ethics on FAIFE Web Site.
An aspiration but detailed code of ethics
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| Estonia |
Estonian
Librarians Association
This
page is currently published only in Estonian, although it does look as
though they are planning an English version. An English
verison of the ELA Ethics Code is found on the FAIFE Web Site.
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| France |
Association des bibliothécaires
français
The ABF
is the oldest of the French librarian associations. Its objectives are
to defend and represent the various facets of the profession at the
national and international levels, to provide a focal point for the
exchange of information, to provide an environment for reflection and
study, and to serve as an information transfer mechanism for library
professionals. The ABF code of ethics was adopted in March 2003. It
provides for a concern for "la tutelle," or stewardship.
The
GFII is a trade association of firms in the electronic information
industry. It is charged to promote the French information industry at
the national, European, and international levels.The code of ethics is
deontological in character. It consists of general obligations, ethical
relationships between manufacturers and end users, and implementation
clauses. The code is in French, there is an English description of the
organization.
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| Hong Kong |
The Hong Kong Computer Society
subscribes to a code of ethics that is largely aspirational. The key
provisions address Professional Competence and Integrity, Social
Implications, Organization and Leadership, and Duty to the Profession.
The Hong Kong Library
Association is a general purpose organization. The HKLA code consists
of five major aspirational provisions. These are: balanced collection
development, patron rights to access, client privacy, professional
excellence, and high standards of professional integrity. The Code is
part of the Association's Constitution . kd
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| Indonesia |
The code is in three parts: (1)
the librarian defined. (2) general duties and obligations, and (3)
professional duties and obligations. It is aspirational. Code is also
available at FAIFE Web site.
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| Ireland |
The
Irish Computer Society is the ICT body in Ireland. It was established
in 1967. The ICS Code of Ethics lists obligations for its members under
these headings: Protection of Public Interest and Legal Compliance,
Responsibility to Employers and Clients,
Professional Dignity and Promotion of Professional Aims, Competence,
Ethics and Impartiality, and ICS Member Email conduct. The Code is
largely prescriptive.
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| Israel |
"The Israeli Center for
Libraries was established in 1965 by the Israeli Librarian's
Association, the Department of Libraries in the Ministry of Education,
and the School of Library, Archive and Information Studies at the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem." kw
A link to ICL's Code of Ethics
can be found at the IFLA Committee on Free Access to Information and
Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) Web site.
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| Italy |
Descriptions and text are in
Italian. An English summary is provided.
A link to AIB's Code of Ethics
can be found at the IFLA Committee on Free Access to Information and
Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) Web site. kw
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| Jamaica |
LIAJ appears to be the successor
to the Jamaica Library Association. No code of ethics was found on the
LIAJ site. A link to JLA's Code of Ethics can be found at the IFLA
Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom Expression (FAIFE)
Web site. kw
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| Japan |
The members of the IPSJ
recognize the transnational importance of information transfer and
therefore the need for a comprehensive code of ethics. The IPSJ code is
aspirational and is organized in three parts: social, professional, and
associational responsibilities.
"The Japan Library Association
(Nihon Toshokan Kyokai), founded in 1892, has been in existence for
more than 100 years. Over these many years, JLA's activities have
been organized and supported by ardent librarians and many other
patrons interested in libraries and librarianship. JLA is the
largest library assocition in Japan, with more than 2,800 institutional
and 6,700 individual members." kw
An additional link to JLA's Code
of Ethics can be found at the IFLA Committee on Free Access to
Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) Web site.
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| Korea |
This page is in Korean. kw The
Code of Ethics can be found in English on the FAIFE Web Site.
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| Lithuania |
Lithuanian Librarians'
Asssociation
"The Lithuanian
Librarians’Association (LLA) was established in 1931 with the initial
aim of joining all Lithuanian librarians and bibliographers and helping
to improve their scientific abilities and working methods." Today the LLA lists six aims on its Web
site. kw The LLA Code is found in English on the FAIFE Web
site.
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| Malaysia |
The Library Association of Malaysian Code of Ethics
requires its members to maintain ethicalstandards that include rights
to privacy for clients, respect for peers, and it urges its members to
respect intellectual freedom. The code consists of eight major points.
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| Mexico |
The Code of Ethics consists of
four parts: social responsibilities, professional responsibilities, the
responsibilities of a group leader, and compliance with the code. The
code is largely aspirational, calling on the professional to promote
the well being of the population, to protect the profession, to provide
leadership in an ethical fashion, and to comply with the code.
The Asociación
Mexicana de Bibliotecarios is guided by its Statute
(Regalamento) Article 3 outlines specific duties, obligations, and
privileges for the membership. It was founded in 1924 and is the oldest
of Mexico's library associations.
This code of
professional ethics is general and aspirational. It consists of nine
short sections ranging in scope from access issues to the role of the
professional organization for the librarian. Links to CNB's Code of
Ethics can be found at its Web site and at the (FAIFE) Web site in
Spanish and English . kd/kw
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| Netherlands |
The ethics statement is an
English translation of the code is located on a Stanford University
domain. The code is in four parts. It is largely prescriptive and
proscriptive. It requires the professional restorer to follow accepted
practice, to negotiate fairly with clients, to follow prescribed
methods to resolve disputes and similar provisions..
The
Netherlands Museum Association Code of Ethics is based on the ICOM
Code.
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| New Zealand |
"LIANZA is the professional body
in Aotearoa New Zealand for those engaged in librarianship and
information management. It actively promotes the use and development of
libraries and information service through publications, meetings,
continuing education programmes and conferences. The Association is
actively committed to the recognition and implementation of the Treaty
of Waitangi." This association publishes its Code of Professional
Conduct and Principles Appying to Consultant Librarians to the World
Wide Web. LIANZA also publishes its stragetic plan, which includes it
mission statement and goals and objectives to the Web. kw
The Code of Professional Conduct
is in seven parts and is primarily aspirational. It identifies the
librarians' primary duty as to their clients and to society. In
addition, librarians are to use sound practices, are not to
discriminate, are to maintain confidentiality and privacy, maintain
professional competencies, avoid conflicts of interest, and to
formulate and implement library policies.
An additional link to LIANZA's
Code of Ethics can be found at the IFLA Committee on Free Access to
Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) Web site. kw
The New Zealand Computer Society
supports the computer industry and education. Its Code of Ethics
prescribes appropriate behavior by its members toward colleagues,
employeers and clients, the public, and society in the practice
of the profession. It contains both prescriptive and prescriptive
norms.
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Peru
|
Colegio de
Bibliotecólogos del Perú
Founded 1990
Roma 324
San Isidro Lima 27, Perú A.Postal 11-0127
A
regulatory, obligatory code of ethics that specifies rights and
sanctions. Code promulgated 1997.
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| Philippines |
Professional Regulation Commission of
the Republic of the Philippines
Code of Ethics for Registered
Librarians -- FAIFE Web Site .
The Code consists of a preamble,
five articles and 31 sections, and a sixth article stating the date of
affect. It is aspirational, defining first "Relation with State and
Society," Relation with Clients," "Relation with Profession and
Colleagues," "Relation with Agency " and finally "Relation with Self."
No organizational web site found
as of January 23, 2001
Philippine Librarians Association
Constitution
and Bylaws, Article 2 , describes the organizational objectives.
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| Portugal |
BAD was
formed in 1973 in Portugal by experts in the field of information and
documentation. Among its aims is to "promote scientific, technical and
cultural improvement of its members with a view to their full identity
and professional ethics awareness." kw Ethics Code on the
FAIFE Web Site in English. The BAD Code of Ethics is a complex document
addressing three general areas of concern: Intellectual Freedom,Privacy
of Users of Information services, and Professionalism.
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| Russia |
TheWebsite is in Russian. There
is an English outline. kd. The Russian Libraries Association
has as members libraries. An English translation of the Code of
Ethics has been done by Robert Vagaans.
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| Singapore |
The Library Association of
Singapore was founded in 1960 and refounded in 1966. It publishes its
Code of Ethics to its Web site. kw
The
Singapore Computer Society represents some 4500 computer professionals.
Its Code of Conduct consists of two general provisions and four
headings. It speaks to integrity and competence of practice
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| Slovenia |
The Slovenian Library
Association was founded in 1947, and its objectives are "developing
librarianship, promoting profesional education, and protecting
profesional interests." kw
The Code is aspirational and in eight parts. It
was adopted in 1995.
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| Sri Lanka |
The
Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, adopted 1997, is found on the
FAIFE Web Site . The code is both prescriptive and aspirational.
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| Sweden |
The Swedish information
profession's trade union. A link to DIK's Code of Ethics can be found
at the IFLA Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of
Expression (FAIFE) Web site. kw
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| Ukraine |
The Ukrainian Library
Association was created in 1995 to provide services and support to the
more than 45,000 libraries in the country. The Ukrainian Library
Association publishes a code of ethics like statement of member
responsibilities, which includes both prescriptive and aspirational
clauses. These include improved education, training, and contacts with
other library associations.
An additional link to ULA's Code
of Ethics can be found at the IFLA Committee on Free Access to
Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) Web site. kw
Literature:
Valentina Volynets, "The Ukranian Library Association" Libraries, Civil Societies and Social
Development, Proceedings Sofia Conference 2002, ed. H.
Achleitner and A. Dimchev, Sofia 2004: 131-136.
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| United Kingdom |
The Code of Conduct is
prescriptive and aspirational. It is divided into four major headings:
The Public Interest, Duty to Employers and Clients, Duty to the
Profession, and Professional Competence and Integrity.
The Chartered Institute of Library and
Information Professionals (CILIP)
"CILIP is a new professional
organization as result of the merger of The Library Association (LA)
and the Institute of Information Scientists (IIS). CILIP expects to
review its code of ethics and mission statement in the 2002-2004
period."
See the Library Association
entry for further information:
Institute of Information Scientists
The
Institute of Information Scientists has merged with the Library
Association to form the Chartered Institute of Library and Information
Professionals. The IIS has not published a code of ethics to its Web
site, but does offer a series of "Ethical Dilemma Case Studies " The
Web site will be maintained for an unspecified period of time. Its "
Draft IIS Guidelines for Professional Ethics for Information
Professionals " The draft guidelines are descriptive, prescriptive, and
proscriptive. They also include a statement of core values.
Library
Association Homepage and Mission Statement
As of April 1, 2002, the Library
Association has merged with the Institute of Information Scientists to
form the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.
For the time being (April12, 2002) the LA Web site is maintained.
The Library Association Code of Professional
Conduct is highly prescriptive and proscriptive. The Code consists of
three major provisions, The first involves standards of behavior, the
second requires compliance with the Association Charter and bylaws, and
the third provides sanctions.
An additional link to LA's Code can be found
at the IFLA Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of
Expression (FAIFE) Web site. kw
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| United States |
The AALL embraces the
professional ethics as expressed by the ALA. The Association is
particularly sensitive to professional issues arising from its
relationship with the law and the legal profession. To that end, it
recognizes a special need to maintain librarian-client confidentiality.
It also acknowledges a special social role. The Code of Ethics is
largely aspirational.
American Association of Museums
The AAM code, which covers areas
of governance, collection, and Programs is largely prescriptive but
with a few aspirational statements. The Document provides detailed
description of how the AAM code has evolved over the years. kd
The ACSA Code of Ethics defines
a set of duties for those who perform scientific research and for their
research protocols.
The ACSA maintains a Conduct of
Science Committee that monitors scientific conduct and that may
sanction inappropriate activity.
The AHIMA code of ethics is
directed to the health information management profession. It
contains deontological and aspirational aspects. Practitioners are
required to obey laws and "...respect the rights and dignity of all
individuals." In turn, they "protect and promote" associational
principles.
Members of the AIC are involved
in the preservation and maintenance of "cultural property." In that
role, they have financial and cultural fiduciary responsibilities. They
must often manage and make decisions concerning the irreplaceable,
whether in a library preservation milieu or outside it. The Code of
Ethics is primarily aspirational but elements are prescriptive and
proscriptive.
The ALA Code of Ethics consists
of eight proscriptive and aspirational provisions. It is further
buttressed by the ALA's Library Bill of Rights. The Code provides
guidance where, in its words, "[e]thical dilemmas occur when values are
in conflict."
An
additional link to ALA's Code of Ethics can be found at the IFLA
Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression
(FAIFE) Web site. kw
The
ASIS&T code of ethics describes three broad areas of librarian
responsibility. These are responsibilities to employers, clients and
systems users-- to the profession-- and to society. It is largely
aspirational.
The ASJA Code of Ethics
specifies specific rights, privileges, and obligations between
freelance journalists and writers and their employeers/contractors for
intellectual property rights, compensation, as well as quality of work,
protection of sources, etc. It imposes on authors an obligation of
truth and accuracy, while at the same time limiting editorial
perview. It requires adequate documentation of sources from its
members, while also protecting those sources.
The
links points to an unofficial source. Standards of Ethical Conduct are
in two parts. The two parts address the responsibilities of the
individual librarian and of the institution. It is both aspirational
and obligatory. It defines possible ethical conflicts which are more
likely to confront the rare book, manuscript, and special collections
librarian more than other librarians. These include access issues to
the special collection as well as potential fiduciary and financial
conflicts of interest. Institutional requirements include development
of a clear standard of ethics and education of staff as to acceptable
and unacceptable practices. The status of collections and access to
those collections are also addressed.
For
ACRL-ALA guidelines see this index .
"...is
an international scientific and educational organization dedicated to
advancing the art, science, engineering, and application of information
technology, serving both professional and public interests by fostering
the open interchange of information and by promoting the highest
professional and ethical standards." The ACM Code of Ethics is a
multipart document that asserts basic human responsibilities, followed
by more specific professional ones. The more general include
environmental awareness and the proscription against harming others.
The second section addresses professional skills and related behaviors.
The third section is concerned with organization dynamics. The fourth
addresses compliance with the code.
The AECT Code of Ethics is in three major
prescriptive and proscriptive parts: commitments to the individual, to
society, and to the profession.
The Mission Statement defines the role of the
organization and the responsibilities of the members: "... to
provide leadership in educational communications and technology by
linking professionals holding a common interest in the use of
educational technology and its application to the
learning process."
This code of ethics is
prescriptive and general in form. It contains eight provisions. These
include librarian/client relations, quality and scope of information,
and relationships maintained with libraries and other information
sources.
The
aspirational code of ethics acknowledges a responsibility to the
profession, to colleagues, to society, to one's employer and to one's
country. It follows with Standards of Conduct statement which
elaborates the Code of Ethics. Members pledge to maintain current
knowledge, avoid conflicts of interest, to cooperate with peers, to
guard privacy, and to act in the best interests of the employer.
The ALCTS is a section of the
American Library Association. Its code of ethics reflects the function
of its members as buying agents and collection developers.
formerly Association of Online
Professionals
Code of Professional Standards
not migrated to the new web site.
The old AOP Code of
Professional Standards consisted of ten general provisions and is
largely prescriptive. Members are charged to protect human dignity and
basic freedoms, to maintain professional excellence, to deal fairly
with the public and themselves, and to obey the law. In addition,
members pledge to avoid the distribution of materials inappropriate for
electronic communications, to guard against the transmission of
inaccurate or false information, and to label age sensitive materials.
The
APRA code of ethics consists of two major aspiration principles.
Members are charged to maintain balance between the need to collect
information and the requirement to protect client/patron privacy. The
first set of provisions outline "fundamental principles," the second is
procedural.
The
ARMA Code is divided into two parts: the social principles and the
professional principles. It is augmented by an annotated version. The
ARMA code is primarily aspirational. The social principles include
treatment of censorship, access issues, and protection of privacy. The
professional principles are concerned with the achievement and
maintenance of professional competencies.
The ICRM Code of Ethics is
aspiration and general. It calls upon records managers with "good faith
and integrity," to obey existing laws, to be prudent, to avoid
conflicts of interest, to guard confidentiality, and to maintain their
professional skills. An ethics review process has been established.
The
IEEE Ethics Committee's Homepage contains the institute's code of
ethics. The page also contains information about the committee's
membership, the ethics roundtable, and discussion mail lists. It
also contains guidelines for resolving ethical and technical conflicts,
links to ethics homepages, and other ethics resources. kw
The MLA Code of Ethics consists of five general
categories entitled "society," "clients," "institution," profession,"
and "self." The code is primarily aspirational. The MLA shares its
ethics code with the CHLA .
The SAA
Code of Ethics is a long and complex document describing obligatory and
aspirational principles guiding professional practice. It describes the
purpose of codes of ethics in general and in particular, collection
guidelines, relationships with donors, conflicts of interest, the
intellectual elements of the professional, and other professional
aspects. Relations with researchers and restrictions on the use of
collections is addressed.
This is a short and general
statement of ethical practices. It is both prescriptive and
aspirational.
Software Engineering Ethics Research Institute
SEERI is a subunit of the
Department of Computer and Information Sciences at East Tennessee State
University. Its mission is "to promote the development of ethical
and professional practices that address the impacts of software
engineering and related technologies on society, through research,
education, and consultation with individuals, organizations and
governments." kw
"The
United States Internet Council, the home for State Legislators and
National policy makers on the Internet. The Council is a non-partisan
group consisting of State policymakers and industry leaders committed
to advancing public policies essential for the digital era." kw
See also:
National Commission on Libraries and Information Science
The Principles of Public
Information defines the information responsibilities of the US Federal
Government and affirms rights of access to "public information." Public
information is defined as "...information created, compiled and/or
maintained by the Federal Government."
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| Uruguay |
The Asociación de
Bibliotecólogos del Uruguay, founded in 1945, adopted its Code
of Ethics in 2000. The association does not yet have a Web site.
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| International and Regional
Organizations |
European
Council of Information Associations
The
ECIA acts as the voice of key European information and documentation
associations to major governmental and non-governmental bodies across
the European Union. kw
The
Ethical Principles adopted by ECIA Members is a four point aspirational
statement of practice.It begins by taking account of differences among
its members and the different roles information professionals play in
different societies. The code is aspirational in nature.
International
Council on Archives
The
ICA, founded in 1948, represents archivists and archivists
organization. Its Code of Ethics, adopted in 1998, is aspirational in
nature. It includes both the promotion of archival materials as well as
the protection of privacy.
International
Council of Museums
The ICOM "is dedicated to the
development of museums and the museum profession, and operates globally
for the preservation of cultural heritage. Committed to the promotion
and facilitation of professional cooperation, ICOM is a worldwide
network for museum professionals of all disciplines and
specialisations."
Its Code of Ethics is
comprehensive and addresses museum governance through professional
conduct. The Code is divided into three major sections (INtroduction,
Institutional Ethics, and Professional Conduct). It is largely
prescriptive and proscriptive.
International
Federation of Library Associations
and Institutions
The IFLA Core Values Statement
approaches in its spirit and content a code of ethics. It is not, under
the definition applied here, strictly speaking a code of ethics
however. The Core Values Statement applies more to the organization
than to its members (most of which are also organizations). It is a
very strong statement of guiding principles and purposes for
information professionals and agencies everywhere.
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