Ethics of Answering Questions

This archived event was part of Everyday Ethics, a collaborative program from the Kansas Regional Library Systems and the State Library of Kansas.

Sponsored by the Northwest Kansas Library System
Presented by Lisa Kelly, Director of Information Services for the Nebraska Library Commission


  • Can librarians be compared with lawyers, doctors, and clergy in regard to privacy, confidentiality, and ethic?
  • How much information do you share about patrons and the questions they ask at the library?
  • Should librarians provide the same access to information despite age, community affluence, library status, or beliefs?
  • Do you treat everyone that enters the library equally or do you provide certain preferences to some and not others?

Lisa Kelly puts the ALA Library Bill of Rights and Code of Ethics at the center of her presentation and offers a variety of questions that she draws from those documents and personal experience. Participants should join the discussion and do some personal reflection on their service to their patrons.

Ethics of Answering Questions from State Library of Kansas on Vimeo.

Additional Resources:

Presentation Slides