TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose– To discuss whether in an age of misinformation on the Internet, calls for censorship, continuing ethnic and religious conflict throughout the world, librarians can be ethically neutral in all service encounters with patrons.Design/methodology/approach– As a review paper, it approaches the topic from a discussion of current trends in the profession vs the historical text in question.Findings– That although Foskett posited theories that proposed a strengthening of the professional practice of librarianship, his ideas could be criticised in the modern era for placing ethical neutrality above responsibility to society, as suggested by Hauptman. Yet such criticism needs to be tempered with the notion that a profession must represent a set of values, and Foskett's call for the profession to embrace a philosophy of practice remains an important point for modern librarians.Practical implication– As a review paper, the practical implications would be in the consideration of the content in the mind of practitioners facing potential ethical dilemmas.Originality/value– The value of the paper is in the re‐examination of ethical debates that have been occurring in the library profession for the past 80 years.
VL  - 56
IS  - 3
SN  - 0024-2535
DO  - 10.1108/00242530710735948
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/00242530710735948
AU  - McMenemy David
PY  - 2007
Y1  - 2007/01/01
TI  - Librarians and ethical neutrality: revisiting The Creed of a Librarian
T2  - Library Review
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 177
EP  - 181
Y2  - 2024/09/21
ER  -