GLC Ethics & Professional Responsibilities 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A librarian suspects a colleague is falsifying continuing education records to meet Georgia certification renewal requirements. The most ethical course of action is to:
- Ignore it since it doesn't affect library services
- Report the concern to the appropriate certification authority (Correct answer)
- Confront the colleague privately and let them self-report
- Document it but wait until the colleague is caught
Correct answer: Report the concern to the appropriate certification authority
Falsifying professional records undermines certification integrity, and the ethical obligation is to report it to the responsible authority.
Question 2: A library board member pressures the head librarian to remove a book from the collection due to community complaints. Ethically, the librarian should:
- Remove the book to avoid community conflict
- Follow the established reconsideration policy before taking any action (Correct answer)
- Immediately move the book to a locked staff area
- Contact the publisher to resolve the dispute
Correct answer: Follow the established reconsideration policy before taking any action
Established reconsideration policies exist precisely to handle challenges systematically and protect intellectual freedom.
Question 3: Under Georgia's O.C.G.A. § 24-9-46, library records may be disclosed without patron consent in which situation?
- When requested by a parent for their adult child's records
- Pursuant to a valid court order or subpoena (Correct answer)
- When a law enforcement officer shows a badge
- When a library board member requests them for audit purposes
Correct answer: Pursuant to a valid court order or subpoena
Georgia law permits disclosure of library records only pursuant to a valid court order or subpoena.
Question 4: A librarian notices a patron who appears to be in distress and may be experiencing a mental health crisis. The ethical response is to:
- Call police immediately without approaching the patron
- Approach calmly, offer assistance, and follow the library's crisis protocol (Correct answer)
- Ignore the situation to respect the patron's privacy
- Ask the patron to leave to protect other patrons
Correct answer: Approach calmly, offer assistance, and follow the library's crisis protocol
Librarians should follow established crisis protocols, which typically involve a calm, non-escalating approach and coordination with appropriate resources.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'intellectual freedom' as it applies to library ethics?
- The right of librarians to select only high-quality materials
- The right of all individuals to seek and receive information freely (Correct answer)
- The right of libraries to operate without government oversight
- The right of patrons to borrow materials without identification
Correct answer: The right of all individuals to seek and receive information freely
Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas, a foundational library ethics principle.
Question 6: A librarian discovers that another staff member accessed a patron's account without authorization to satisfy personal curiosity. This is a violation of:
- Collection development policy only
- Patron privacy rights and professional ethics (Correct answer)
- Library cataloging standards
- Interlibrary loan procedures
Correct answer: Patron privacy rights and professional ethics
Unauthorized access to patron accounts violates the fundamental ethical principle of patron confidentiality.
Question 7: When developing a social media policy for library staff, which ethical consideration should be the primary guiding principle?
- Maximizing the library's follower count
- Protecting patron confidentiality and maintaining professional boundaries (Correct answer)
- Allowing staff to express personal views using library accounts
- Minimizing library IT department workload
Correct answer: Protecting patron confidentiality and maintaining professional boundaries
Staff social media policies must prioritize patron confidentiality and ensure professional conduct that reflects the library's values.
GLC Ethics & Professional Responsibilities 3
A librarian suspects a colleague is falsifying continuing education records to meet Georgia certification renewal requirements.
The most ethical course of action is to: