FACULTY OF INFORMATION STUDIES

MARA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Diploma in Information Management

(IS110) Foundamental of Information Study
(IMD 102)

ETHICS OF INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL

Prepared by :
Fatin Hazwani Bt Zaini (2009285518)
Nur Mahirah Bt Maizan (2009293928)
Norliyana Bt Ahmad Husni (2009898432)
Muhammad Umar B Mohd Yunus (2009291268)
Ain Amalina Bt Hussin (2009862142)
ISD1E5

Prepared for :
EN. MUHAMAD ISMAIL BIN PAHMI

Date of submission :7 October 2009

INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS

According to Longman,information is a facts that tells you something about a

situation,person,event and lots more while professional means relating to a job that needs special
education and training.
An information professional or an information specialist is a person who works with
information science, libraries, museums, or archives, although the field is changing rapidly to
include other disciplines.
According to the books Foundation of Information Studies,by Abdul Razak
Abu,information professionals is a professional career that implies the activity acquiring an
education at or above the baccalaureate level. According to Debon, professionals be behave
according to standards that may be self-imposed,or be entrenched by a community or individuals
who share common theoretical and technical interest and who agree on their own ethics.
Other than that,an Information Professionals is the person that is responsible in
handling the information,which she or he can be the creator, disseminator, consumer,retriever and
storer of information. These information professional is guided by certain standards.It also share
common theoretical and technical interest.However,in each professionals field,it have its own ethics
and commitment to excellence.
There are six categories of Information Professionals which is Information theorist or
we called it as Scientist and Information Systems Specialist. Other than that,there is also
Information Intermediaries,Information technologist by Shirley,Gupta and Debons
(1974),Managers of Information and Educators and trainers of information workers by
Debons(1981).
According to LONGMAN,competency is an ability to do something well.Other than
that,Competency is defined by the Council of Europe's (CoE) document as "the set of knowledge
and skills that enable an employee to orient easily in a working field and to solve problems that are
linked with their professional role."

Ethics of information professional for this new millenium has introduce the important
collection of papers on professional ethics for library and information services.This work bring
together papers from many countries reflecting both the diversity and commonality of our
professional concerns and responses to their ethical dimensions.There are professional challenges
for the year also which also included initiatives to rebuild and strengthen the libraries of countries
ravaged by conflicts,continuing pressure to cencor the internet in many states and to access
information in too many countries.For the issues,we need to draw on our professional traditions,our
moral sensibilities,and our commitments to the welfare of society in seeking to respond with
wisdom and compassions.These information professional are helping in resolve those challenges to
the benefit of both the people who are immediately involved and the wider community.In the long
and noble tradition of library and information work,we have maintained a commitment to conserve
the records of human enquiry and imagination.

Since the invention of the public library in the middle of nineteenth century and the
diversification of libraries in many types and models,we have increasingly endeavoured to extend
our services to the whole community.In all cases,we are professionally obliged to work to meet their
needs as well as possible and in a disinterested spirit.
Ethics

According to Longman,ethics is a general idea or belief that influences people's

behaviour and attitudes. In other words,ethics is a moral rules or principles of behavior for deciding
what is right and and wrong.In order to apply this definition to practical decision making it is
necessary to specify the nature of the moral obligations considered intrinsic to ethical behavior.
There are two aspects to ethics: the first involves the ability to discern right from wrong, good from
evil, and propriety from impropriety; the second involves the commitment to do what is right, good
and proper. Ethics is an action concept; it is not simply an idea to think and argue about.
In addition,according to the Library and Information Center Management, ethics is so
important since it is an integral part in getting a good bussiness. Example, in an organizations that
exploit the labor force or takes advantages of customers or deny product defects incur huge costs
that ultimately hurt the organizations.
While according to http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/whatisethics.html
(retrieved : 7/10/2009),the meaning of ethics is divided into two.First, ethics refers to well based
standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights,
obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. Ethics, for example, refers to those
standards that impose the reasonable obligations to refrain from rape, stealing, murder, assault,
slander, and fraud. Ethical standards also include those that enjoin virtues of honesty, compassion,
and loyalty. And, ethical standards include standards relating to rights, such as the right to life, the
right to freedom from injury, and the right to privacy. Such standards are adequate standards of
ethics because they are supported by consistent and well founded reasons.
Secondly, ethics refers to the study and development of one's ethical standards. As
mentioned above, feelings, laws, and social norms can deviate from what is ethical. So it is
necessary to constantly examine one's standards to ensure that they are reasonable and well-
founded. Ethics also means, then, the continuous effort of studying our own moral beliefs and our
moral conduct, and striving to ensure that we, and the institutions we help to shape, live up to
standards that are reasonable and solidly-based.
IMPORTANCE OF ETHICS

Ethics is an integral part of good business.Organizations that are well respected and
profitable are almost always marked by good ethical practices.Individual employees sometimes act
in opposition to the organizational norms.Each employee brings his or her individual ethical values
to the organization.This ethics is the value that have been shaped in an individuals by
parents,relatives,teachers,and culture which represent sn individual basic convictions about ehat is
right and what is wrong.Each employee,with his or her values is then exposed to the norms of an
organizations.These norms would conform to the individuals in the workplace is affected by the
external factors.

PROFESSIONAL CODES OF ETHICS

According to the Ethics for IT Professional and IT Users,a professional code of

ethics states the principles and core value essential to the work of a particular occupational group.
Practitioners in many professions subscribe to a code of ethics that governs their behaviour. Codes
of ethics consist two part. The first outlines is what the professional organization aspires to
become,and the second outlines is a lists rules or principles by which member of the organization
are expected to abide.
We also cannot expect a professional code of ethics can provide the complete answer.Only by
understanding the principles behind the code and interpreting what is really intended can one
achieve the intent. There were many benefits of a code of ethics.
• Improves ethical decision-making.
• Promotes high standards of practice and ethical behaviour.
• Enhances trust and respect from the general public.
• Provides an evaluation benchmark.
ETHICS FOR LIBRARIAN

A librarian designs,plans,organises,manages and evaluates library and information services.A

librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science which is the
organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs.
They are train to:
• analysing the library and information needs of the community which the library serves.
• Designing the most appropriate library and information services and systems to satisfy those
needs.
• Selecting appropriate materials to meet clients needs.
• Creating and maintaining databases relevant to the library needs
• developing and implementing the policies for services provisions
• devising acquisitions systems and procedures
• original cataloguing and classification of library resources
• designing the circulation control systems
• asssisting clients in the use of the library and information system
• promoting library services.
• Selecting,evaluating,managing and training staff
• monitoring developments in library practice or technology
EXAMPLES OF THE ETHICS

CODES OF ETHICS OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

1. We provide the highest level of services to all library users through appropriate and usefully
organized resources; equitable services policies;equitable access;and accurate,unbiased and
courtenous responses to all requests.
2. We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resists all efforts to cencor library
resources.
3. We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information
sought or received and resources consulted,borrowed,acquired or transmitted.
4. We recognized and respect intellectual property rights.
5. We treat co-workers and other colleagues with respect,fairness,and good faith and advocate
conditions of employment that safeguard the rights and welfare of all employees of our
institutions.
6. We do not advance private interests at the expense of library users,colleagues, or our
employing institutions.
We distinguish between our personal convictions and professionals duties and do not allow
our personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation of the aims of our institutions or the
provision of access to their information resources.
7. We strive for excellence in the profession by mainttaining and enhancing our own
knowledge and skills,by encouraging the professional development of co-workers, and by
fostering the aspirations of potential members of the profession.
ETHICS IN INFORMATION SCIENCE

Information science is an interdisciplinary science primarily concerned with the

analysis, collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval and dissemination of
information.These part also focuses on understanding problems from the perspective of the
stakeholders involved and then applying information and other technologies as needed.
As for UNESCO , its aims in ethics of science is that to promote consideration of
science and technology in an ethical framework by initiating and supporting the process of
democratic norm building. This approach is founded upon UNESCO's ideal of "true dialogue, based
upon respect for commonly shared values and the dignity of each civilization and culture".
Awareness raising, capacity building and standard-setting are therefore the key thrusts of
UNESCO's strategy in this and all other areas. For them, Science ethics is necessary to articulate the
basic values of science and scientific research when there is a growing risk of conflicts of interest
UNESCO is organizing a series of ethics conferences in various countries for the
purpose of :
1. Providing information about the activities of UNESCO in the area of ethics,and
disseminating materials produced.
2. Interacting with professionals and experts from the coutry to exchange information,solicit
input for UNESCO activities and create a network of interested parties.
A CODE OF ETHICS FOR ARCHIVISTS

An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains

control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. They:

1. select, preserve, and make available records and papers that have lasting value to the
organization or public that the archivist serves. Archivists perform their responsibilities in
accordance with statutory authorization or institutional policy. They subscribe to a code of
ethics based on sound archival principles and promote institutional and professional
observance of these ethical and archival standards.
2. Archivists arrange transfers of records and acquire papers in accordance with their
institutions' purposes and resources. They do not compete for acquisitions when competition
would endanger the integrity or safety of records and papers; they cooperate to ensure the
preservation of these materials in repositories where they will be adequately processed and
effectively utilized.
3. Archivists negotiating with transferring officials or owners of papers seek fair arrangements
and benefits; copyright; plans for processing; and conditions of access. Archivists
discourage unreasonable restrictions on access or use, but may accept as a condition of
acquisition clearly stated restrictions of limited duration and may occasionally suggest such
restrictions to protect privacy. Archivists observe faithfully all agreements made at the time
of transfer or acquisition.
4. Archivists appraise records and papers with impartial judgement based on thorough
knowledge of their institutions' administrative requirement or acquisitions policies. They
arrange records and papers selected for retention in conformity with sound archival
principles and as rapidly as their resources permit. Archivists protect the integrity of records
and papers in their custody, guarding against defacement, alteration, theft, and physical
damage, and ensure that their evidentiary value is not impaired in the archival work of
restoration, arrangement, and use. They cooperate with other archivists and law enforcement
agencies in the apprehension and prosecution of thieves.
5. Archivists respect the privacy of individuals who created or are the subject of records and
papers, especially those who had no voice in the disposition of the materials. Their neither
reveal nor profit from information gained through work with restricted holdings.
6. Archivists answer courteously and with a spirit of helpfulness all reasonable inquiries about
their holdings, and encourage use of them to the greatest extent compatible with institutional
polices, preservation of holdings, legal consideration, individual rights, donor agreements,
 and judicious use of archival resources. They explain pertinent restrictions to potential users,
and apply them equitably.
7. Archivists endeavor to inform users of parallel research by others using the same materials,
and, if the individuals concerned agree, supply each name to the other party.
8. Archivists may use their institutions' holdings for personal research and publication if such
practices are approved by their employers and are made known to others using the same
holdings. Archivists may review and comment on the works of others in their fields,
including works based o research in their own institutions. Archivists who collect
manuscripts personally should not compete for acquisitions within their own repositories,
should inform their employers of their collecting activities, and should preserve complete
records of personal acquisitions.
9. Archivists avoid irresponsible criticism of other archivists or institutions and address
complaints about professional or ethical conduct to the institution concerned, or to a
professional archival organization.
10.Archivists share knowledge and experience with other archivists through professional
activities and assist the professional growth of others with less training or experience.
11.Archivists work for the best interests of their institutions and their profession and endeavor
to reconcile any conflicts by encouraging adherence to archival standard and ethics.

Codes of Ethics adopted by Records & Archive Professional

1. Professional responsibilities
2. Perform tasks without discrimination
3. Encourage & promote the use of archival materials in custody
4. Duties carried out according to the highest standard of conduct
5. Facilitate the retrieval &exchange of information
6. Enable the sharing of authority data.
7. Make possible integration of description from different archival institution into unifies
information system.
8. Contribute to the advancement of records & archival knowledge & skills for the benefit of
society.
Code of Ethics Museums

1. Collect , preserve and interpret the data for the usage of public.
2. compelled to advance an understanding of all natural forms and of the human experience.
This is because museum collections and exhibition materials represent the world's natural
and cultural common wealth.
3. It is incumbent on museums to be resources for humankind and in all their activities to
foster an informed appreciation of the rich and diverse world we have inherited.
4. preserve that inheritance for posterity.
5. Thus,the museums ensures that :

• collections in its custody are lawfully held, protected, secure, unencumbered, cared for, and
preserved
• collections in its custody are accounted for and documented
• access to the collections and related information is permitted and regulated
• acquisition, disposal, and loan activities are conducted in a manner that respects the
protection and preservation of natural and cultural resources and discourages illicit trade in
such materials
• acquisition, disposal, and loan activities conform to its mission and public trust
responsibilities
• disposal of collections through sale, trade, or research activities is solely for the
advancement of the museum's mission. Proceeds from the sale of nonliving collections are
to be used consistent with the established standards of the museum's discipline, but in no
event shall they be used for anything other than acquisition or direct care of collections.
• the unique and special nature of human remains and funerary and sacred objects is
recognized as the basis of all decisions concerning such collections
• collections-related activities promote the public good rather than individual financial gain
• competing claims of ownership that may be asserted in connection with objects in its
custody should be handled openly, seriously, responsively and with respect for the dignity of
all parties involved.
Training and Qualifications

According to the books Foundation of Information Studies,by Abdul Razak Abu,training of

information and professionals are done by universities,all over the world.Information Professionals
need at leasts baccalaureate level of education in the area of library and information science.

• Mission

1. train information professionals who are well-balanced,knowledgements,comprtitive,ethical

and sensitive towards the development of profession in which they are involved,

2. Committed to provide continuous education and training at all levels for the information
professionals,and undertaking research and provide consultation service.

• Goals

1. Supply manpower needs professionally qualified information personnel for the

development of the nation in support of the vision 2020.

2. provide academic and professionals programs of high quality,innovative and up-to-date.

3. Train undisputed to become information professionals who ae versatile,competitive and

proactive.

4. Provide quality teaching with the support of practical training,research,publishing and

consultation work.

5. Increase the quality,effectiveness and the variety of training programs according to the
needs of the market and technological advanceent.

6. Produce graduates who would act as agents towards the promotion of a reading and
informed community.

• Employment

1. usually requires a degree in information.

2. Graduates are hired in governmet and private sectors

3. archivists, conservator, or currator usually requires graduate education and related work
experience.
CONCLUSION

After finishing this task,we just noticed the importance of ethics in information
professionals.We also understand what really is ethics and information professionals.Like what is
mention in one of our reference books which is Library and Information Center Management.

It is stated in that book that,ethics is an important topic,and it is orten complex because there
are so many gray areas.Obviously, there are some elements,such as restrictions on physically
harming another person,that would be agreed upon by almost everyone.But there are many other
areas in which ambiguity exists,and even people with the best of intentions often will disagree about
the right thing to do.All managers should demonstrate the importance of ethics by their own
behaviour are in place and that employees are informed of them,and should monitor the behaviour
of employees to be sure that they are compliying.Managing ethically is not easy, but it is a
responsibility of all managers to uphold high ethical standards within their organizations.

So,with this,can be concluded that information professional is important and its ethics make
it more complete and it helps a lot in organizing a company.
 REFERENCES

1. What is ethics?(retrieved : 7/10/2009) , from world wide web,

http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/whatisethics.html

2. UNESCO.ORG . Ethics of Science and Technology Programme . ( retrieved : 7/10/2009) ,

from World Wide Web,

http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-
URL_ID=10581&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

3. Joseph Institute . Ethics . (retrieved : 6/10/2009) , from World Wide Web,

http://josephsoninstitute.org/whatisethics?

4. American Association of Museum .Ethics in Museum.(retrieved : 6/10/2009) , from World

Wide Web , http://www.aam-us.org/index.cfm

5. Archives.org . Ethics in Archivist . (retrieved : 5/10/2009) , from World Wide Web ,

http://www.archives.gov/

6. Stueart,Robert D . Library and Information Center Management . (2007) .seventh edition .

United State : Libraries Unlimited

7. Reynolds,George . Ethics in Information Technology . (2003) . Canada : THOMSON Course

Technology

8. Vaagan,Robert W . The Ethics of Librarianship:An International Survey . (2002) .

Germany : IFLA Publication 101

9. LONGMAN: Dictionary of Contemporary English. ( 2003) 4th ed. UK:LONGMAN