ALCTS Network News v7n08 (May 9, 1994) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/ann/ann-v7n08 ISSN: 1056-6694 ALCTS NETWORK NEWS An electronic publication of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services Volume 7, Number 8 May 9, 1994 In this issue SEARCH OPEN FOR ALCTS PAPERS EDITOR DRAFT REVISION OF ALA CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS ALA PUBLISHES TWO NEW BOOKS ************************************************************************** SEARCH OPEN FOR ALCTS PAPERS EDITOR Applications are being sought for the position of editor of the ALCTS Papers on Library Collections and Technical Services series. The series was begun as a means of publishing papers from ALCTS institutes and conference programs. Four numbers have been published to date, and an additional two are in process of being published. The editor is responsible for soliciting the manuscripts, editing them for style and for consistency with the other volumes in the series, and serving as the liaison between the volume editor and ALA Publishing. The editor also serves ex officio as a member of the ALCTS Publications Committee. The editor is appointed for a three-year term and is eligible for reappointment once. The current editor, Edward Swanson, is completing his first term and therefore is eligible for reappointment. Persons interested in applying for the position should submit a letter of application, including information about previous editing experience, to: Judith Niles, Chair, ALCTS Series Editor Search Committee, 3210 Graystone Manor Pkwy., Louisville, KY, 40241-3101 by May 15. Interviews will be conducted at the ALA Annual Conference in Miami in June. ************************************************************************* DRAFT REVISION OF ALA CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS The Committee on Professional Ethics has just completed two years of hearings, study, comments, and soul-searching to revise the ALA Code of Professional Ethics. Following is a draft of the Committee's efforts for review and comment. The Committee heard many suggestions from ALA members. Some believed the Code should be prescriptive and enforceable. Others believed it should be broad, leaving significant room for interpretation. While there are valid reasons for both points of view, the Committee chose the latter in its construction of this latest revision of the ALA Code. In addition, the Committee updated the Code to address concerns which are not inherent in the existing version. For example, the current Code says nothing about continuing education for our profession; the new revision addresses the subject, but in the broadest context. We believe the ALA Code of Professional Ethics should be the broadest statement of those beliefs which are not only held in common by all librarians, but also in the highest esteem by the members of our profession. In our opinion, it is not possible or desirable to address specific areas of concern or to prescribe specific conduct for an entire profession in a Code of Professional Ethics. Further, we are not striving for either clarity or preciseness in this draft. The essence of ethics is conflict and discussion, and we hope to generate both. The Committee wants to encourage Divisions, Sections, Round Tables and other Committees to develop Interpretive Statements which apply to specific groups and are based on this Code. The Committee is greatly encouraged by efforts from ALCTS and the Rare Book and Manuscript Section of ACRL for their pioneering efforts in this regard. The Committee further wants to encourage members in individual libraries to use the Code, discuss the implications of each statement in it, and adopt it as a part of their institution's practices. We are heartened by the many institutions which have adopted the existing Code. The Committee on Professional Ethics asks that you review this draft and forward any and all comments, criticisms and questions. Do your concerns or those of your group fit into the broad tenets of this Code? Have the significant areas been covered enough to encourage and allow further work by units? Forward your comments to the Committee on Professional Ethics c/o Office for Intellectual Freedom, American Library Association, 50 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611, by June 1. The Committee anticipates revisiting this document at the Annual Conference in Miami. ALA Code of Professional Ethics Proposed Revision I. Librarians must provide the highest level of professional service through appropriate and usefully organized resources; fair and equitable service policies; fair and equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests. II. Librarians must resist all efforts by groups or individuals to censor library resources or to compromise the library's commitment to intellectual freedom. III. Librarians must protect each user's right to privacy with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed or acquired. IV. Librarians must treat colleagues with respect, fairness and good faith, and will advocate conditions of employment which guarantee the rights and welfare of all employees of the institution. V. Librarians strive for excellence in the profession by maintaining and enhancing their own knowledge and skills, by encouraging the professional development of co-workers, by fostering the professional aspirations of current and potential students. VI. Librarians must not advance personal interests at the expense of library users, colleagues, or the employing institution. VII. Librarians must distinguish between personal beliefs and their professional duty and not allow their particular views or moral judgements to interfere with fair representation of the aims of their institution or the equitable provision of information. ************************************************************************* ALA PUBLISHES TWO NEW BOOKS Guide to Technical Services Resources The American Library Association has published the _Guide to technical services resources_, which describes more than 2000 selected print, electronic, and expert sources for modern technical services, practice, research, and education. Under the editorship of Peggy Johnson (University of Minnesota/St. Paul), the _Guide_ organizes and annotates sources in technical services in general, acquisitions, descriptive cataloging, classification, subject analysis systems, authority control, filing and indexing, serials management, collection management, presertvaiton, reproduction of library materials, database management, and access services. It is available for $60. ($54. ALA member) from the Order Dept., ALA, at 800-545-2433. International Subscription Agents Current information on the procurement services of more than 250 subscription agents throughout the world is available in the sixth edition of _International subscription agents_. The standard information provided for each subscription agent includes address, countries or geographical areas served, types of materials supplied, catalogs or lists available to customers, notes on special services, the year the business was established, and the extent to which operations are computerized. It also includes fax and telephone numbers, and each vendor's interfaces with library systems, its automated customer reports, back-issue capability, and payment options. It is available from the Order Dept., ALA, for $35. ($31.50 ALA member) at 800-545-2433. ************************************************************************* ************************************************************************* ALCTS NETWORK NEWS (ISSN 1056-6694) is published irregularly by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, a division of the American Library Association. Editorial offices: ALCTS, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; Jennifer Younger, President; Karen Muller, Executive Director. Editor: Karen Whittlesey (u34261@uicvm); Editorial Advisory Board: Liz Bishoff, Jennifer Younger, Robert P. Holley; Editorial Assistance: Karen Muller ALCTS NETWORK NEWS is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the division. News items should be sent to the editor at the e-mail address above. To subscribe, issue the network command "tell listserv@uicvm sub alcts [your name]." Back issues of AN2 are available through the listserver. To find out what's available, send the following command to LISTSERV@UICVM: send alcts filelist Send questions about membership in ALCTS to the ALCTS Office, u34261@uicvm. All materials in the newsletter subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or education advancement. For other reprinting or redistribution or translations, address requests to the ALA Office of Rights and Permissions, 50 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. *************************************************************************