ABSTRACT
The study focused on the ethical role of library and information science professionals in disseminating information in academic library (John Harris library). The study’s goal was targeted at examining the extent at which ethical standards guides the work of Library and information science professionals, identifying the factors that contribute to unethical information dissemination, examining the strategies for promoting ethical information dissemination among Library and information science professionals, and determining the ethical challenges faced by Library and information science professionals in John Harris library.
The research questions raised to guide this study were, To what extent has ethical standards guide the work of Library and Information Science professionals in John Harris Library,What are the factors that contribute to unethical information dissemination, How effective can ethical information dissemination be promoted amongst lis professionals, how do library and Information Science professionals uphold ethical standards in their work, What are the challenges faced by Library and Information Science professionals in John Harris Library? The study adopted the use of descriptive survey research design, and the population used for this study was 87 librarians of which 30 are professionals and 57 are non-professional staff, the entire population was used as sample of the study. Questionnaire titled” ethical role of library and information science professionals in disseminating information” were drawn and administered, (80) copies were retrieved from the respondents and found worthy of use.
The findings indicated that, Library and information science professionals uphold ethical standards by following a code of ethics or professional conduct, prioritizing user privacy and confidentiality and provide accurate information to users.Limited budget and resources, inconsistency with rapid change in technology and digital resources, improper maintenance of user privacy and data security are challenges faced by library and information science professionals in academic libraries. The study concludes that, By fostering an atmosphere that values ethics and provides the necessary support, academic libraries can ensure the moral integrity of library and information science staff members as well as their capacity to serve users in an effective and accountable manner. The following recommendations were given in light of this study, The extent to which ethical standards guide the work of Library and Information Science professionals in John Harris Library should be strictly adhere to, There should be regular and proper training on ethical issues and ethical information practices among library and information science professionals and Library management should device alternate ways to overcome some of the perennial challenges faced by library and information science professionals when disseminating information, such as financial constraints and data privacy and security concerns. This study has contributed to the body of existing knowledge of which, The study has been able to establish the extent to which ethical standards guide the work of Library and Information Science professionals in John Harris Library, lastly, The study was also able to highlight the challenges faced by library and information science professionals when disseminating information includes; financial constraints and data privacy and security concerns.
