This topic is too rarely explored within librarianship in any consistent manner. Hauptman refutes the belief that strict and mindless adherence to any simple code -- such as the ALA Code of Ethics -- will suffice to relieve the librarian of having to make reasoned choices for him/herself. In the main, professional ethics should yield to generalized ethical standards of society, although it is not difficult to see how that rule of thumb can lead to disastrous failures. What if the general community standard is that gay men and lesbians are sick and immoral individuals; shouldn't the professional obligation to provide access to information trump this prejudice? So while he isn't wrong in his criticisms, he is less successful in defending a viable alternative. ( )