Ethical Issues in Management of Big Data in Libraries and other Information Centres

Abstract

This paper addresses some ethical issues that arise from the management of big data in the libraries. The concept of big data was explained. The benefits to society have brought significant improvement in the processing of information for research and policy use. Some challenges faced by researchers and policy makers when big data is utilised in libraries and information centers include user privacy and information security issues. Some of roles librarians and information professionals play in the big data era include; data ethicists; data advisors/consultants – and use at reference desks or points of need components of ethical competence for library and information practitioners are ethical sensitivity, ethical knowledge and ethical behaviour. Some of the competencies for data ethics identified are; awareness of big data trends and development, knowledge of key ethical principles codes and policies. Moral sensitivity, judgment, and character. Guided reading, listening and reviewing are some of the education expected of data ethicists. Recognizing an ethical issue and getting the facts form the framework for ethical decision-making. The paper concludes that the establishment of scientific and effective network ethics for network ethical construction plays a very important role in the era of big data