AASL Resource Guides for School Library Media Program Development

Ethical Issues

American Library Association Code of Ethics

The ALA Code of Ethics are the principles that guide the work of librarians, other professionals providing information services, library trustees, and library support staffs. The principles are expressed in broad statements which provide a framework to guide ethical decision making.

International Federation of Library Association and Institutions

IFLA monitors the state of intellectual freedom within the library community world-wide. Its site contains papers and lectures as well as global versions of library codes of ethics.

Privacy in School Library Media Programs

Helen Adams, "Confidentiality [in school library media programs]," School Library Media Activities Monthly, September 2006.

Helen Adams, "The Age of the Patron [elementary students]," School Library Media Activities Monthly, March 2007,

Helen Adams, "The Age of the Patron: Privacy for Middle and High School Students," School Library Media Activities Monthly , April 2007,

Three of the “Privacy Matters” columns from School Library Media Activities Monthly define privacy and confidentiality in school library media programs and offer practical suggestions on protecting student privacy.

Helen Adams, Robert Bocher, Carol Gordon, and Elizabeth Barry-Kessler. Privacy in the 21st Century: Issues for Public, School, and Academic Libraries. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited, 2005.

The book sections relating to privacy in school library media programs includes information on the state library records laws; privacy and library services in the media center; privacy and records retention policies; privacy and the use of the Internet; and the impact of technology on privacy in the school media center.