ETHICAL DILEMMAS CONFRONTING INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: A ZIMBABWEAN PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Library and information professionals the world over are confronted by ethical issues that affect the way they execute their duties. The digital revolution of the 21st century has brought new ethical dilemmas for information professionals. Whilst the issue of information ethics is becoming more complex and elusive, little attention has been made on ethical issues affecting Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals in Zimbabwe. Since ethics are context specific. This study sought to understand ethical issues affecting LIS professionals in Zimbabwe today. The study also looked at the challenges affecting LIS professionals in enforcing ethical principles. A descriptive survey methodology was used to gather data from LIS professionals across Zimbabwe. Snowball sampling was used and 58 practising LIS professionals participated in the study. An online questionnaire was used to collect data. The findings reveal that the issue of privacy and access to resources were the major ethical issues affecting LIS professionals. Other ethical issues emanate from accuracy of information and protection of privacy. LIS professionals generally supported all the ethical principles that relate to information provision. However, the major challenges stifling the application of ethical principles include lack of resources, lack of locally drafted ethical codes, conflict of interest, and complexity of certain ethical codes. Therefore, there is need for locally relevant ethical codes, marketing of the codes and training on professional ethics