Library Managers and Ethical Leadership: A Survey of Current Practices from the Perspective of Business Ethics

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article and survey examine library managers' role in ethics leadership within their organization. Ethics in libraries goes beyond the “big picture issues” addressed in the information science profession, to include workplace ethics. Managers of all levels must be equipped to deal with the ethical issues that arise from positions of power, and they should understand that they play an important role in shaping the ethical climate of their organization. Library research and literature do not emphasize management ethics. They provide no concrete research and scant guidance for managers of libraries. However the field of business ethics addresses concepts and frameworks for ethical decision making, which library managers can learn and use. Our survey adds to the body of knowledge in this area by providing a snapshot of the wide spectrum of ethical issues that library managers currently face in their different types of libraries. It also provides a snapshot of their knowledge and views of codes of ethics (specifically, the American Library Association Code) and their current actions toward fostering ethical climates in their organizations. Finally, we present the idea of “ethics literacy,” discussing what components from the field of business ethics provide a practical understanding and value for library managers.