Ethical reference practice

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether the outcomes of a reference transaction can be improved by focusing on the ethical dimension of the conversation between user and librarian. The aim is to provide a better understanding of the ethical implications of the reference interview.

Design/methodology/approach

The starting point is the ethical questions raised by the results of Gunhild Salvesen's PhD thesis, where she analyses authentic reference interviews by the method Conversation Analysis (CA). She found several traits in the conversations between librarian and user with a negative influence on the quality of the transactions. To visualise the ethical implications of the same conversation, Løgstrup's ethics of proximity are used.

Findings

Analysing the conversations from an ethical perspective revealed that increased ethical consciousness among the librarians clearly would have improved the quality of the actual transactions. It is concluded that the total quality of reference transactions will increase by focusing on the ethical dimension.

Research limitations/implications

Using data from a researcher to validate the same data in another context might not be considered appropriate. However, using the transcripts from Salvesen's dissertation would serve the purpose of revealing the ethical implications of the interviews and their influence on the quality.

Practical implications

This work might contribute to increasing the ethical consciousness among reference librarians, and encourage them to improve their communication skills, to raise the quality of the interaction.

Originality/value

This way of using ethical theories in the analysis of authentic conversations between user and librarian is new. Likewise, using CA on reference interviews in a library setting is also new.

Citation

Ulvik, S. and Salvesen, G. (2007), "Ethical reference practice", New Library World, Vol. 108 No. 7/8, pp. 342-353. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800710763635