Keywords
Citation
Nurcombe, V.J. (2001), "Legal Liability for Information Provision", Library Review, Vol. 50 No. 2, pp. 99-107. https://doi.org/10.1108/lr.2001.50.2.99.5
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
The idea that there may be a legal liability for provision of information is unfamiliar to many librarians who are conscious only of the requirement of their profession to provide information which is correct and accurate to the best of their knowledge and resources. It is now necessary to ensure information services are planned and delivered in such a way as to minimise the risk of future action. The changing environment in information provision in the 1970s and 1980s is examined in the light of computing developments and the increased reliance on the librarian’s search skills. The increasing awareness of cost has increased the range of charges now made for information and it is suggested that incurring of a fee for information may affect the liability issue.
In order to set the whole in context, Mary Mowat goes on to examine the legal status of information in the UK and the USA, which varies. The development of the information chain with IT and the Internet is also considered as is the question of potential libel. Negligence and its implications form the content of Chapter 4 before the risk assessment stage is reached.
In analysing risk it is then important to take steps to minimise it. Fee‐based information services, however, enter into contractual relationships with users and contract law is examined in relation to information provision. While concluding that librarians are less likely to be sued than many other professions, the author makes it clear that there is still a possibility that this may occur one day. The higher the standard of professional practice the less likely this is.
Every chapter is well supported by references and the final bibliography is a good starting point for anyone concerned about their legal situation. The organisation by topic, in the bibliography, is particularly useful. Unfortunately there is no index but the text remains one of the most readable starting points for all librarians in countries where the legal system is based on British law.