A code of ethics is a list of guiding principles for ethical behavior. For example, a code
of ethics tends to contain statements of the form “You shall do X” (e.g. “You shall
protect intellectual property rights”) or “You shall not do Y” (e.g. “You shall not censor
library resources”). Codes of professional ethics for library organizations are mainly
intended to guide the behavior of library professionals. However, these codes serve
other functions as well. In particular, these codes of professional ethics inform the
public about what library professionals are committed to doing