Professional Standards and Ethics Flashcards
7 cards from real LTA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Professional Standards and Ethics flashcards as text
Which professional organization publishes the primary code of ethics followed by library technical assistants in the United States?
Answer: American Library Association (ALA)
The American Library Association publishes the Code of Ethics that serves as the foundational ethical framework for library workers in the U.S.
When weeding a library collection, an LTA removes books solely because they express views the LTA personally dislikes. This violates:
Answer: Collection development policy and intellectual freedom principles
Removing materials based on personal viewpoint rather than objective criteria violates both collection development policy and intellectual freedom principles.
An LTA who uses their position to access patron records about a neighbor out of personal curiosity is committing:
Answer: A serious ethical breach and potential legal violation
Accessing patron records without a legitimate professional purpose is a serious ethical breach and may violate state library confidentiality statutes.
The concept of 'due process' in a library workplace context means that an employee accused of a policy violation should:
Answer: Receive a fair investigation and opportunity to respond before disciplinary action
Due process requires that employees receive a fair investigation and the opportunity to respond to allegations before disciplinary action is taken.
A library's policy states that staff must not use library computers for personal social media during work hours. An LTA who briefly checks personal messages is:
Answer: Violating workplace policy regardless of duration
Workplace policies apply regardless of the duration of the violation or current patron traffic — brief infractions are still policy violations.
Which action best demonstrates an LTA's commitment to ongoing professional development?
Answer: Attending workshops, pursuing certifications, and staying current with ALA guidelines and library trends
Ongoing professional development includes attending training, pursuing certifications, and staying informed about evolving professional standards and trends.
If a library technical assistant disagrees with a new library policy, the most professionally appropriate response is to:
Answer: Express disagreement through proper channels such as staff meetings or direct communication with supervisors
Professional ethics require raising disagreements through proper internal channels rather than ignoring policy, complaining to patrons, or taking drastic action.