Without Consent
The Ethics of Disclosing Personal Information in Public Archives
Published on 1. January 1992
Book
Paperback/Softback
230 pages
978-0-8108-3964-9 (ISBN)
Description
Without Consent is an exploration of the theoretical and practical issues associated with the administration of access to government-held personal information generally, and to personal information held in government archive specifically. Its theme is the balance archivists must strike in negotiating access to such information: how do archivists reconcile research and privacy interests concerning the disclosure of personal information? In situations where the two interests conflict, where does archivists' professional responsibility lie?
Reviews / Votes
...a major study on a too neglected topic....Heather MacNeil is to be complimented for one of the more important archival contributions in recent years. * Jasis * Social scientists, historians, archivists, attorneys, and government officials can read this well written and reasoned volume with profit. * Choice Reviews * ...a first-rate job of discussing questions of privacy that often bedevil investigative journalists as they seek sensitive records. * Investigative Reporters and Editors Journal * ...the thorough text is well written, the treatment of historical and legal aspects is substantial, and the final recommendations are forthright. * Journal of Academic Librarianship * ...enormously well researched... * Archives and Manuscripts: Journal of the Australian Society of Archivists * Although it is designed for archivists, and treats exclusively of archival issues, MacNeil's text warrants wider attention throughout the information profession as an outstanding example of a study that examines the basic work of a major component of that profession from the standpoint of the ethical standards that must be rigorously applied in developing, implementing, and enforcing policies and procedures. * Journal of Information Ethics * ...an important book which should be read by anyone with an interest in or responsibility for the access to or storage of personal information, and for students in the information field...very readable and well-documented... * Australian Library Journal * Heather MacNeil has prepared a book of extraordinary erudition on an issue central to the administration of modern archival records in both paper and electronic format...This work essentially offers a set of conceptual principles and legal precedents that form the Canadian and U.S. approaches to privacy and to freedom of information... historical records of a personal nature...it should be noted and perhaps consulted by any archivist who has responsibilities for material of this kind... * Journal of Academic Librarianship *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Lanham, MD
United States
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
333 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8108-3964-9 (9780810839649)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Heather MacNeil, a freelance archivist, has written and lectured on archival ethics and descriptive standards and has served on the Association of Canadian Archivists' Ethics Committee, which recently developed a code of ethics for Canadian archivists.