Ethical Practices in Library Service Delivery among Information Professionals: Insights from Academic Libraries in Tanzania
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ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Recurso educativo Open Access |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
2025
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| _version_ | 1867181256036319232 |
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| author | Beth Kachota Ronald Benard Silver Hokororo |
| author_facet | Beth Kachota Ronald Benard Silver Hokororo Beth Kachota Ronald Benard Silver Hokororo |
| collection | Education Resources Information Center |
| contents | Ethical Practices in Library Service Delivery among Information Professionals: Insights from Academic Libraries in Tanzania Beth Kachota Ronald Benard Silver Hokororo Foreign Countries Ethics Library Services Academic Libraries Library Personnel Ethical practices among information professionals in academic libraries are vital for effective and equitable service delivery. Such practices involve ensuring equal access to information, maintaining data accuracy, protecting user privacy, and safeguarding intellectual property. However, gaps remain due to limited resources and insufficient training, resulting in inconsistent ethical standards. This study investigated the awareness and implementation of ethical practices in academic libraries through a cross-sectional design involving 136 respondents. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed across selected libraries. Results showed that most information professionals exhibited high awareness of equal user treatment, data protection, and adherence to service standards. Nonetheless, there was limited awareness regarding advising users on the difference between accessible and restricted resources, indicating areas needing targeted intervention. Statistical analysis using chi-square tests (X²= 117.9, df = 3, p = 0.000) demonstrated significant variation in awareness across ethical dimensions. One-way ANOVA further revealed notable differences in the extent of ethical practice execution (p < 0.05). The study concludes that while overall awareness is strong, specific aspects like verifying information accuracy and intellectual property protection require enhanced focus. It recommends that library management develop clear ethical guidelines and implement ongoing training to standardize and strengthen ethical practices. |
| format | Recurso educativo Open Access |
| id | eric_EJ1500602 |
| institution | ERIC Institute of Education Sciences |
| language | en |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | eric |
| spellingShingle | Ethical Practices in Library Service Delivery among Information Professionals: Insights from Academic Libraries in Tanzania Beth Kachota Ronald Benard Silver Hokororo Foreign Countries Ethics Library Services Academic Libraries Library Personnel Ethical Practices in Library Service Delivery among Information Professionals: Insights from Academic Libraries in Tanzania Beth Kachota Ronald Benard Silver Hokororo Foreign Countries Ethics Library Services Academic Libraries Library Personnel Ethical practices among information professionals in academic libraries are vital for effective and equitable service delivery. Such practices involve ensuring equal access to information, maintaining data accuracy, protecting user privacy, and safeguarding intellectual property. However, gaps remain due to limited resources and insufficient training, resulting in inconsistent ethical standards. This study investigated the awareness and implementation of ethical practices in academic libraries through a cross-sectional design involving 136 respondents. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed across selected libraries. Results showed that most information professionals exhibited high awareness of equal user treatment, data protection, and adherence to service standards. Nonetheless, there was limited awareness regarding advising users on the difference between accessible and restricted resources, indicating areas needing targeted intervention. Statistical analysis using chi-square tests (X²= 117.9, df = 3, p = 0.000) demonstrated significant variation in awareness across ethical dimensions. One-way ANOVA further revealed notable differences in the extent of ethical practice execution (p < 0.05). The study concludes that while overall awareness is strong, specific aspects like verifying information accuracy and intellectual property protection require enhanced focus. It recommends that library management develop clear ethical guidelines and implement ongoing training to standardize and strengthen ethical practices. |
| title | Ethical Practices in Library Service Delivery among Information Professionals: Insights from Academic Libraries in Tanzania |
| topic | Foreign Countries Ethics Library Services Academic Libraries Library Personnel |
| url | https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1500602 |