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In this paper, faculty librarians at an academic institution explore the ethical dimensions of conducting research with user-generated social networking service (SNS) data. In an effort to guide librarian-researchers, this paper first offers a background discussion of privacy ethics across disciplines and then proposes a library-specific ethical framework for conducting SNS research.

By surveying the literature in other disciplines, three key considerations are identified that can inform ethical practice in the field of library science: context, expectation, and value analysis. For each of these considerations, the framework is tailored to consider ethical issues, as they relate to libraries and our practice as librarian-researchers.

The unique role of the librarian-researcher demands an ethical framework specific to that practice. The findings of this paper propose such a framework.

Librarian-researchers are at a unique point in our history. In exploring SNSs as a source of data to conduct research and improve services, we become challenged by conflicting and equally cherished values of patron privacy and information access. By evaluating research according to context, expectations, and value, this framework provides an ethical path forward for research using SNS data.

As of this paper’s publication, there is no existing ethical framework for conducting SNS research in libraries. The proposed framework is informed both by library values and by broader research values, and therefore provides unique guidelines for the librarian-researcher.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which HTTPS encryption and Google Analytics services have been implemented on academic library websites, and discuss the privacy implications of free services that introduce web tracking of users.

The home pages of 279 academic libraries were analyzed for the presence of HTTPS, Google Analytics services and privacy-protection features.

Results indicate that HTTPS implementation on library websites is not widespread, and many libraries continue to offer non-secured connections without an automatically enforced redirect to a secure connection. Furthermore, a large majority of library websites included in the study have implemented Google Analytics and/or Google Tag Manager, yet only very few connect securely to Google via HTTPS or have implemented Google Analytics IP anonymization.

Librarians are encouraged to increase awareness of this issue and take concerted and coherent action across five interrelated areas: implementing secure web protocols (HTTPS), user education, privacy policies, informed consent and risk/benefit analyses.

Third-party tracking of users is prevalent across the web, and yet few studies demonstrate its extent and consequences for academic library websites.

Social Media Optimization (SMO) offers guidelines by which libraries can design content for social shareability through social networking services (SNSs). The purpose of this paper is to introduce SMO and discuss its effects and benefits for libraries.

Researchers identified and applied five principles of SMO. Web analytics software provides data on web site traffic and user engagement before and after the application of SMO.

By intentionally applying a program of SMO, the library increased content shareability, increased user engagement, and built community.

Increasing use of SNSs may influence the study results, independent of SMO application. Limitations inherent to web analytics software may affect results. Further study could expand analysis beyond web analytics to include comments on SNS posts, SNS shares from library pages, and a qualitative analysis of user behaviors and attitudes regarding library web content and SNSs.

This research offers an intentional approach for libraries to optimize their online resources sharing through SNSs.

Previous research has examined the role of community building and social connectedness for SNS users, but none have discussed using SMO to encourage user engagement and interactivity through increased SNS traffic into library web pages.

Communications regarding this column should be addressed to Mrs. Cheney, Peabody Library School, Nashville, Term. 37203. Mrs. Cheney does not sell the books listed here. They are available through normal trade sources. Mrs. Cheney, being a member of the editorial board of Pierian Press, will not review Pierian Press reference books in this column. Descriptions of Pierian Press reference books will be included elsewhere in this publication.

Young men of African‐Caribbean origin are over‐represented in mental health services (MHSs), often entering these services by coercive routes, such as under the Mental Health Act or via the criminal justice system. This pilot study focused on patients' narratives of their journey from first contact with primary care services. Our principal aim was to describe and compare early experiences of help‐seeking for serious mental health problems among young men of white and black ethnicity.In‐depth interviews were conducted (using a topic guide) with black and white men aged 18‐30 years old and who were accessing secondary care mental health services for the first time for a psychotic illness. Participants were recruited from the early intervention services serving inner‐city Birmingham. Seven participants were interviewed, and 12 themes were identified from transcripts. Six of these individuals had consulted their GP prior to accessing the early intervention service. Only one attendee received medication at initial consultation, and none were referred to specialist mental health services. Participants described the manner in which family or friends interceded on their behalf to advocate for and secure specialist help ‐ either by accompanying them to see their GP, contacting mental health services directly or taking them to the local accident and emergency department. The latter route was accessed by black but not white participants. Three out of four black participants and one out of three white participants were subsequently admitted to hospital. None of the participants were particularly satisfied with their experience of primary care. Communication was less than ideal, and participants were able to reflect on their own failure to disclose critical information to their doctor. By contrast, all participants confided in family or in their trusted friends that they were becoming aware that they were experiencing mental distress.Our findings confirm the difficulties faced by GPs and those who consult them in the early stages of first onset psychotic episodes, and the importance of having family or friends who are able to advocate on other people's behalf at times of crisis. Despite the advent of universal early intervention services across the UK, those most in need may still not be receiving the help that they need in the timeliest manner.

This research provides accounting-ethics authors and administrators with a benchmark for accounting-ethics research. While Bernardi and Bean (2010) considered publications in business-ethics and accounting’s top-40 journals this study considers research in eight accounting-ethics and public-interest journals, as well as, 34 business-ethics journals. We analyzed the contents of our 42 journals for the 25-year period between 1991 through 2015. This research documents the continued growth (Bernardi & Bean, 2007) of accounting-ethics research in both accounting-ethics and business-ethics journals. We provide data on the top-10 ethics authors in each doctoral year group, the top-50 ethics authors over the most recent 10, 20, and 25 years, and a distribution among ethics scholars for these periods. For the 25-year timeframe, our data indicate that only 665 (274) of the 5,125 accounting PhDs/DBAs (13.0% and 5.4% respectively) in Canada and the United States had authored or co-authored one (more than one) ethics article.

In order to succeed in an action under the Equal Pay Act 1970, should the woman and the man be employed by the same employer on like work at the same time or would the woman still be covered by the Act if she were employed on like work in succession to the man? This is the question which had to be solved in Macarthys Ltd v. Smith. Unfortunately it was not. Their Lordships interpreted the relevant section in different ways and since Article 119 of the Treaty of Rome was also subject to different interpretations, the case has been referred to the European Court of Justice.