GLC Ethics & Professional Responsibilities 2

Question 1

A library director discovers that a staff member has been sharing patron checkout records with a local law enforcement officer without a court order. What is the most appropriate first step?

Accepted Answer

Notify the library board and consult legal counsel

Answer

Immediately terminate the staff member

Answer

Ignore it if the officer claims an ongoing investigation

Answer

Report the patron to law enforcement yourself

Question 2

Under the ALA Code of Ethics, how should a librarian handle a personal belief that conflicts with providing access to legal but controversial materials?

Accepted Answer

Provide equitable access regardless of personal views

Answer

Refuse to assist patrons with those materials

Answer

Relocate those materials to a restricted section

Answer

Post personal disclaimers near those materials

Question 3

A librarian is offered a gift card by a vendor after selecting their database product. What is the ethically correct response?

Accepted Answer

Decline and report the offer to a supervisor

Answer

Accept it as a token of appreciation

Answer

Accept it anonymously to avoid conflict

Answer

Donate it to the library's fund

Question 4

A patron requests that the library delete their borrowing history. Under Georgia library confidentiality principles, what should the librarian do?

Accepted Answer

Honor the request in accordance with the library's privacy policy

Answer

Deny the request since records are institutional property

Answer

Ask the patron to submit a written legal petition

Answer

Transfer the decision to the library director only

Question 5

When a colleague engages in professional misconduct, a librarian's ethical obligation under the ALA Code of Ethics is to:

Accepted Answer

Report the conduct through appropriate channels

Answer

Cover for the colleague to maintain staff unity

Answer

Confront the colleague publicly at a staff meeting

Answer

Do nothing unless personally affected

Question 6

A school librarian in Georgia is asked by a teacher to block access to websites related to a topic the teacher finds objectionable, even though the sites are educationally relevant. The librarian should:

Accepted Answer

Consult the district's collection development and internet use policy

Answer

Block the sites to maintain harmony with faculty

Answer

Allow the teacher to block the sites using admin tools

Answer

Refer all website access requests to the principal

Question 7

Which principle best describes the librarian's duty when a minor requests access to materials that are legal but intended for adults?

Accepted Answer

Balance intellectual freedom with parental rights and library policy

Answer

Deny access to all adult materials to any patron under 18

Answer

Require written parental consent for all library materials

Answer

Allow full access with no restrictions since the materials are legal