Ethical values in information organization and representation

Authors

  • José Augusto Chaves Guimarães Universidade Estadual Paulista
  • Suellen Oliveira Milani Universidade Estadual Paulista
  • Isadora Victorino Evangelista Universidade Estadual Paulista

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/1518-2924.2015v20nesp1p19

Keywords:

Ethicsin knowledge organization and representation, Ethical dilemmas in Library Science, Ethical values in subject representation

Abstract

Librarians’ practices involve the non-neutrality of the knowledge organization and representation process, and their instruments’, and an ethical commitment to satisfy users’ needs in an agile and precise way. These users are culturally diverse, and dealing with these specificities can cause some tensions in the library context. When one thinks about ethical tensions in a professional practice, it is brought to the discussion aspects related to the ethical values which permeate such practice, and the problems which can emerge from the refusal of these values. This paper has the aim to verify how the theoretic-conceptual scenario related to Ethics in knowledge organization and representation area has addressed these questions in LIS international journals (1990—2012).

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

José Augusto Chaves Guimarães, Universidade Estadual Paulista

Possui graduação em Biblioteconomia pela Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (1981), graduação em Direito pela Fundação de Ensino Eurípides Soares da Rocha (1981), mestrado em Ciências da Comunicação pela Universidade de São Paulo (1989) , doutorado em Ciências da Comunicação pela Universidade de São Paulo (1994), livre-docência em Análise documentária pela Universidade Estadual Paulista (2000). Realizou estágio pós-doutoral na Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (2008-2009). Desde 2009 ocupa o cargo de Professor Titular do Departamento de Ciência da Informação da Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho em Marília-SP. Tem experiência na área de Ciência da Informação, com ênfase em Organização da Informação, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: análise documental, organização do conhecimento, epistemologia da Ciência da Informação, ética profissional em Ciência da Informação e documentação jurídica.

Suellen Oliveira Milani, Universidade Estadual Paulista

Possui Graduação em Biblioteconomia pela Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (2007), Mestrado em Ciência da Informação pela Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (2010) e Doutorado em Ciência da Informação pela Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (2014). Foi bolsista FAPESP durante toda a sua trajetória, isto é, Iniciação Científica, Mestrado e Doutorado. Pesquisa na linha Produção e Organização da Informação, mais especificamente na temática Ética na representação de assunto. Atua como pesquisadora nos grupos de pesquisa Formação e atuação profissional em organização da informação (UNESP) e Representação em Arquivos e Bibliotecas (UFPA). Cumpriu 12 meses de atividades na School of Information Studies (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Estados Unidos) sob orientação da Doutora Hope A. Olson e com financiamento da CAPES.

Isadora Victorino Evangelista, Universidade Estadual Paulista

Mestranda do Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência da Informação da Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), vinculada a Linha de Pesquisa: Produção e Organização da Informação, Eixo Temático - Organização da Informação, sendo financiada pela instituição de pesquisa FAPESP. Formada em Biblioteconomia pela Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP) - Campus de Marília. Possui experiência na área de Ciência da Informação, com ênfase em Ética na Representação do Conhecimento.

References

ABBAS, J. In the margins: reflections on scribbles, knowledge organization and access. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 34, n. 1, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2007-2-72

BAKEWELL, K. Indexing after the millennium 6 standards and good practice. The Indexer, London, v. 21, n 3, p. 106-107, 1999. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.1999.21.3.2

BARTELL, B. T.; COTTRELL, G. W.; BELEW, R. K. Representing documents using an explicit model of their similarities. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, New York, v. 46, n. 4, p. 254-271, 1995. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(199505)46:4<254::AID-ASI3>3.0.CO;2-S

BATCHELOR, J. Indexing after the millennium 7 relieving information poverty. The Indexer, London, v. 21, n 3, p. 107, 1999. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.1999.21.3.3

BEGHTOL, C. A proposed ethical warrant for global knowledge representation and organization systems. Journal of Documentation, London, v. 58, n. 5, p. 507-532, 2002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410210441

BELL, H. Should fiction be indexed? The indexability of text. The Indexer, v.18, n.2, p.83-85, 1992. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.1992.18.2.5

BROWN, C. The Poehlman case: understanding and indexing ethical problems in scientific journals. The Indexer, v. 29, n. 4, p. 179-184, 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.2011.47

BROWNE, G. Professional liability of indexers. The Indexer, London, v.20, n.2, p.70-73, 1996. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.1996.20.2.4

CAMPBELL, G. G. A queer eye for the faceted guy: how a universal classification principle can be applied to a distinct subculture. In: MCILWAYNE, C. la. Knowledge organization and the global information society. Würzburg: ERGON Verlag, 2004. p. 109-113.

CANNCASCIATO, Daniel. Ethical Considerations in Classification Practice: A Case Study Using Creationism and Intelligent Design. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, New York, v. 49, n. 5, p. 408 - 427, 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01639374.2011.589221

CASWELL, M. Using classification to convict the Khmer Rouge. Journal of Documentation, London, v. 68, n. 2, p. 162-184, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00220411211209177

CHEN, H. et al. Smart itsy bitsy spider for the web. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, New York, v. 49, n. 7, p. 604-618, 1998. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(19980515)49:7<604::AID-ASI3>3.0.CO;2-T

CHUNG, Y. M.; LEE, J. Y. A corpus-based approach to comparative evaluation of statistical term association measures. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, New York, v. 52, n. 4, p. 283-296, 2001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/1532-2890(2000)9999:9999<::AID-ASI1073>3.3.CO;2-X

COPE, J. Librarianship as intellectual craft: The ethics of classification in the realms of leisure and waged labor. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 39, n. 5, p. 356-362, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2012-5-356

CORTINA, A.; MARTÍNEZ, E. Ética. São Paulo: Edições Loyola, 2005.

DAHLBERG, I. Ethics and knowledge organization: in memory of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan in his centenary year. International Classification, Frankfurt, v. 19, n. 1, p. 1-2, 1992. Disponível em: <https://portal.ouvidoria.fazenda.gov.br/ouvidoria/ActionServlet?idInformacao=167&objeto=br.com.tellus.ouvidoria.negocio.InformacaoUtil&acao=recover>. Acesso em: 18 set. 2012

FOX, M. J.; REECE, A. Which ethics? whose morality?: An analysis of ethical standards for information organization. Knowledge Organization,Würzburg, v. 39, n. 5, p. 377-383, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2012-5-377

FRAME, A. Indexers and publishers: their views on indexers and indexing. The Indexer, London, v. 20, n. 2, p. 58-63, 1996. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.1996.20.2.2

FRAME, A. Indexers and publishers: their views on indexers and indexing, part 2. The Indexer, London, v. 20, n. 3, p. 131-134, 1997. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.1997.20.3.8

FREI BETTO. Desafios éticos. Brasília: Ministério da Fazenda. Ouvidoria, 2006.

FURNER, J. Interrogating “identity”: A philosophical approach to an enduring issue in knowledge organization. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 36, n. 1, p. 3-16, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2009-1-3

GALLAGHER, H. M. Dr. Osborn's 1941 “The Crisis in Cataloging”: A Shift in Thought Toward American Pragmatism. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, New York, v. 12, n. 3-4, p. 3-33, 1991. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J104v12n03_02

GARCÍA GUTIÉRREZ, A. Knowledge organization from a “culture of the border” towards a transcultural ethics of mediation. In: LÓPEZ-HUERTAS, M. M. (Ed.). Challenges in knowledge representation and organization for the 21st century: integration of knowledge across boundaries. Wüsburg: ERGON-Verlag, 2002. p. 516-522.

GILLILAND, A. T. Contemplating co-creator rights in archival description. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 39, n. 5, p. 340-346, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2012-5-340

GRAHAM, L.; ROSEMBLAT, G. Cross-language search in monolingual health information system: flexible designs and lexical process. In: BUDIN, G.; SWERTZ, C.; MITGUTSCH, K. (Eds.). Knowledge organization for a global learning society. Wüsburg: ERGON-Verlag, 2006. p. 173-181.

GUIMARÃES, J. A. C. Aspectos éticos em organização e representação do conhecimento: reflexão preliminar. In: GONZÁLEZ DE GÓMEZ, M. N.; ORRICO, E. G. D. (Org.). Políticas de memória e informação: reflexos na organização do conhecimento. Natal: EDUFRN, 2006. p. 237-264.

GUIMARÃES, J. A. C. et al. Aspectos éticos da organização da informação: abordagens teóricas acerca da questão dos valores. In: GOMES, H. F.; BOTTENTUIT, A. M.; OLIVEIRA, M. O. E. de (Org.). A ética na sociedade, na área da informação e da atuação profissional. Brasília: Conselho Federal de Biblioteconomia, 2009.

GUIMARÃES, J. A. C. et al. Ethics in the Knowledge Organization Enviroment: overview of values and problems in the LIS literature. In: ARSENAULT, C.; TENNIS,J. T. (Ed.). Cultural and Identity in Knowledge Organization. Würzburg: ERGON, 2008. p. 340-346.

GUIMARÃES, J. A. C.; MILANI, S. O. Bias in the indexing languages: theorethical approaches about feminine issues. In: GNOLI, C.; MAZZOCHI, F. (Ed.). Paradigms and conceptual systems in knowledge organization. Würzburg: ERGON, 2010. p. 424-429.

GUIMARÃES, J. A. C.; MILANI, S. O.; PINHO, F. A. Aspectos éticos em organização e representação do conhecimento (ORC): uma análise preliminar de valores e problemas a partir da literatura internacional da área. Encontros Bibli: Revista Eletrônica de Biblioteconomia e Ciência da Informação, Florianópolis, v. 13, n. 25, p. 124-135, 2008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5007/1518-2924.2008v13n25p124

GUIMARÃES, J. A. C; FERNÁNDEZ-MOLINA, J. C. Ethical aspects of knowledge organization and representation in the digital environment: their articulation in professional codes of ethics. In: LÓPEZ-HUERTAS, M. J. (Ed.). Challenges in knowledge representation and organization for the 21st century: integration of knowledge across boundaries. Würzburg: ERGON, 2002. p. 487-492.

HJRLAND, B. Deliberate bias in knowledge organization. In: ARSENAULT, C.; TENNIS,J.T. (Ed.). Cultural and Identity in Knowledge Organization. Würzburg: ERGON, 2008. p.156-261.

HOFFMAN, G. L. Meeting Users’ Needs in Cataloging: What is the Right Thing to Do? Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, New York, v. 47, n. 7, p. 631-641, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01639370903111999

HOMAN, P. A. Library catalog notes for “bad books”: Ethics vs. responsibilities. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 39, n. 5, p. 347-355, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2012-5-347

JACOBS, C. Ethical places, ethical spaces: stopping to listen. The Indexer, London, v. 25, n. 3, p. 161-167, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.2007.3

KASDORF, B. Indexers and XML: an overview of the opportunities. The Indexer, London, v. 24, n 2, p. 75-78, 2004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.2004.24.2.8

KILCULLEN, M.; SPOHN, M. Indexing a local newspaper using dBASE IV. The Indexer, London, v. 20, n. 1, p. 16-17, 1996. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.1996.20.1.10

KUBLIK, A. et al. Adapting dominant classifications to particular contexts. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, New York, v. 37, n. ½, p. 13-31, 2003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J104v37n01_03

KWASNIK, B. H.; RUBIN, V. L. Stretching conceptual structures in classifications across languages and cultures. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, New York, v.37, n.1/2, p. 33-47, 2003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J104v37n01_04

LEE, H. L. Epistemic foundation of bibliographic classification in early China: A Ru classicist perspective. Journal of Documentation, London, v. 68, n. 3, p. 378-401, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00220411211225593

LEE, H. Origins of the main classes in the first Chinese bibliographic classification. In: ARSENAULT, C.; TENNIS,J. T. (Ed.). Cultural and Identity in Knowledge Organization. Würzburg: ERGON, 2008. p. 275-281.

LIEW, L. C. Digital library research 1997-2007: Organisational and people issues. Journal of Documentation, London, v. 65, n. 2, p. 245-266, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410910937606

LÓPEZ-HUERTAS, M. J. Some current research questions in the field of knowledge organization. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 35, n. 2/3, p. 113-136, 2008.

LÓPEZ-HUERTAS, M. J. Some current research questions in the field of knowledge organization. Knowloadge Organization, Würzburg, v. 35, n. 2-3, p. 113-136, 2008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2008-2-3-113

MAI, J-E. Folksonomies and the new order: Authority in the digital disorder. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 38, n. 2, p. 114-122, 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2011-2-114

MAXWELL, T. A. Mapping information policy frames: the politics of the digital millennium copyright act. Journal of the American for Information Science and Technology, New York, v. 55, n. 1, p. 3-12, 2004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.10339

McTAVISH, J. R.; NEAL, D. R.; NADINE WATHEN, C. Is what you see what you get? Medical Subject Headings and their organizing work in the violence against women research literature. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 38, n. 5, p. 381-397, 2011.

MEYER, M.; CALITZ, L.; BRINK, I. Archival value in South Africa. The Indexer, London, v. 23, n. 2, p. 70-73, 2002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.2002.23.2.6

MILANI, S. O.; GUIMARÃES, J. A. C. Biases in knowledge representation: an analysis of the feminine domain in Brazilian indexing languages. In: SMIRAGLIA, R. P. (Ed.). NASKO Proceedings. Toronto: ERGON, 2011. p. 94-104. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7152/nasko.v3i1.12794

MILLER, D. R. Principia Bibliographica? Balancing Principles, Practice, and Pragmatics in a Changing Digital Environment. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, New York, v. 44, n. 3-4, p. 281-305, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J104v44n03_09

MUDDAMALLE, M. R. Natural language versus controlled vocabulary in information retrieval: A case study in soil mechanics. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, New York, v. 49, n. 10, p. 881-887, 1998. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(199808)49:10<881::AID-ASI4>3.0.CO;2-Y

NAUN, C. C. Objectivity and Subject Access in the Print Library. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, New York, v. 43, n. 2, p. 83-95, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J104v43n02_07

OLSON, H. A. Difference, culture, and change: the untapped potential of LCSH. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, New York, v. 29, n. ½, p. 53-71, 2000. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J104v29n01_04

OLSON, H. A.; SCHLEGL, R. Standardization, objectivity, and user focus: a meta-analysis of subject access critiques. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, New York, v. 32, n.2, p. 61-79, 2001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J104v32n02_06

OLSON, H. A; GIVEN, L. M. Indexing and the ‘organized’ researcher. The Indexer, London, v. 23, n. 3, p. 129-133, 2003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.2003.23.3.5

OLSON, H. Dewey thinks therefore he is the epistemic stance of Dewey and DDC. In: GREEN,R.(Ed.). Knowledge organization and change. Frankfurt: INDEKS, 1996, p.302-312.

PINHO, F. A.; GUIMARÃES, J. A. C. Male homosexuality in brazilian indexing languages: Some ethical questions. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 39, n. 5, p. 356-362, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2012-5-363

SARGENT, S. Jurgen Habermas and the Ethics of Gatekeeping. Cataloging & Classisfication Quarterly, New York, v. 16, n. 3, p. 7 – 15, 1993. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J104v16n03_02

SEEMAN, D. Naming names: The ethics of identification in digital library metadata. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 39, n. 5, p. 325-331, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2012-5-325

SIEBEL, K. The Indexer's indexes: a critique. The Indexer, London, v.17, n.4, p.267-268, 1991. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.1991.17.4.12

SIMKIN, J. E. Professionalism. The Indexer, London, v. 20, n. 4, p. 178-181, 1997. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.1997.20.4.2

SMIRAGLIA, R. P. Bibliocentrism, Cultural Warrant, and the Ethics of Resource Description: A Case Study. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, New York, v. 47, n. 7, p. 671-686, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01639370903112013

SMITHER, R.. 'Is Britannia a personality?': some questions arising while indexing the Imperial War Museum's collections. The Indexer, London, v. 17, n. 1, p. 07-10, 1990. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.1990.17.1.4

STAR, S.; BOWKER, G. Enacting silence: Residual categories as a challenge for ethics, information systems, and communication. Ethics and Information Technology, Dordrecht, v. 9, n. 4, p. 273-280, 2007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10676-007-9141-7

STEPHEN, C. From print to web: indexing for accessibility. The Indexer, London, v. 27, n. 2, p. 76-79, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.2009.24

SU, L. T. A comprehensive and systematic model of user evaluation of web search engines: II An evaluation by undergraduates. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, New York, v. 54, n. 13, p. 1193-1223, 2003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.10334

TENNIS, J. T. A convenient verisimilitude or oppressive internalization?: Characterizing the ethical augments surrounding hierarchical structures in knowledge organization systems. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 39, n. 5, p. 394-397, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2012-5-394

THERON, J. C. Indexes to a South African bibliography to the year 1925. The Indexer, London, v. 23, n. 2, p. 58-62, 2002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3828/indexer.2002.23.2.2

THOMAS, A. R. Bibliographical classification: the ideas and achievements of Henry E. Bliss. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, New York, v. 25, n. 2, p. 51-104, 1997. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J104v25n01_05

UNSWORTH, K. Ethical Concerns of Information Policy and Organization in National Security. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, New York, v. 47, n. 7, p. 642-656, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01639370903118663

WILLIAMSON, N. J. Clare Beghtol: Teacher, researcher, and theoretician. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 37, n. 2, p. 101-105, 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2010-2-101

ZHANG, J. Archival context, digital content, and the ethics of digital archival representation. Knowledge Organization, Würzburg, v. 39, n. 5, p. 332-339, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/0943-7444-2012-5-332

Published

2015-01-12

How to Cite

GUIMARÃES, José Augusto Chaves; MILANI, Suellen Oliveira; EVANGELISTA, Isadora Victorino. Ethical values in information organization and representation. Encontros Bibli: electronic journal of library science, archival science and information science, Florianópolis/SC, Brasil, p. 19–32, 2015. DOI: 10.5007/1518-2924.2015v20nesp1p19. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/eb/article/view/1518-2924.2015v20nesp1p19. Acesso em: 30 dec. 2025.