Code of Ethics of the American Library Association. As members of the American Library Association, we recognize the importance of codifying and making known to the profession and to the general public the ethical principles that guide the work of librarians, other professionals providing information services, library trustees and library staffs.
Ethical dilemmas occur when values are in conflict. The American Library Association Code of Ethics states the values to which we are committed, and embodies the ethical responsibilities of the profession in this changing information environment. We significantly influence or control the selection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information. In a political system grounded in an informed citizenry, we are members of a profession explicitly committed to intellectual freedom and the freedom of access to information. We have a special obligation to ensure the free flow of information and ideas to present and future generations. Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public Libraries. Created by the ALSC Education Committee, 1989.
Revised by the ALSC Education Committee: 1999, 2009, 2015; approved by the ALSC Board of Directors at the 2015 American Library Association Annual Conference. Download a PDF Version Here - Free downloadable, camera-ready PDFs professionally designed are available for ALSC members only.