Towards the ethical librarian. Perspectives and challenges of staff of Sam Jonah Library, University of Cape Coast – Ghana
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-12-2018-0097 |
| Pages | 428-440 |
| Published date | 12 August 2019 |
| Date | 12 August 2019 |
| Author | Gloria Bosomtwi Amoah,Eugene Baah Yeboah |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Towards the ethical librarian
Perspectives and challenges of
staff of Sam Jonah Library,
University of Cape Coast –Ghana
Gloria Bosomtwi Amoah and Eugene Baah Yeboah
Sam Jonah Library, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine the perspectives and viewpoints of professional staff of
the Sam Jonah Library in as much as the ethical aspects of their profession are concerned. The paper also
seeks to determine the common ethical issues that confront these professionals and their default courses of
action in dealing with these issues.
Design/methodology/approach –The descriptive survey design was used as the research methodology
with thepopulation of the study beingall professional (post-graduatediploma and above)and para-professional
(certificate,diploma and first degree)staff of the library. Due to the small numberof professional staff (43) in the
library, the censussampling technique was used.
Findings –Results indicated the e xistence of ethical dilemmas in the wor king lives of these professionals
with guidance for deali ng with these dilemmas emanating mostly from con sultation of senior colleagues.
Although the findings s howed that the Ghana Library Association (G LA) had an ethics handbook, it was
revealed that majorit y of the staff were not aware of its existence. It wa s also discovered that one of the
major challenges of these professionals is the absence of a specific library code of ethics handbook to guide
staff in case they are conf ronted with these ethical dilemmas. The st udy recommends a strong awareness
creation initiative f rom the GLA to bring to the not ice of members, the exist ence of a formal code of
ethics document.
Originality/value –The paper provides information on specific ethical issues confronting staff of the
library and their current modes of dealing with the dilemmas they encounter.
Keywords Ethics, Code of ethics, Ethical dilemmas, Ethics in librarianship, Ghana Library Association,
Sam Jonah Library
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
All professions are guided by codes of conduct or ethical guidelines. These ethical guidelines
are laid down usually by professional bodies to guide members of the profession in their
day-to-day activities and to serve as a reference guide for those professionals who find
themselves at crossroads as to what to do in some situations when a single course of action
is not clear cut.
Professional ethics are defined by Hoffman (2005) as the principles of conduct that
govern an individual or a group of individuals belonging to a common profession. Issues
bordering on ethics have predominantly been found in the more traditional professions like
medicine and law; however, other professions have involved the concept of ethics in their
operations (Du Mont, 1991).
Usherwood (1981) places the evolution of ethics in librarianship originally in the years
leading up to 1938 and credits the Americans as the foremost drivers of this concept.
Librarians play a critical role in the society; they are mandated to acquire information and
grant access to this information to their users. A shift in the librarianship profession has
ensured that libraries do not only acquire information and facilitate access, but go on further
to publicize the availability of such information. This paradigm shift in librarianship has
been necessitated by the need of the library to stay relevant in light of competition from
online sources and commercial search engines.
Library Management
Vol. 40 No. 6/7, 2019
pp. 428-440
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/LM-12-2018-0097
Received 18 January 2019
Revised 9 April 2019
Accepted 30 April 2019
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
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