Being negligent and liable: a challenge for information professionals

In recent years, increasing attention appears to have been paid by information professionals to issues of professional negligence and liability. Key legal issues are discussed, and negligence and liability is examined in the electronic domain. It is suggested that the commercialisation of the information marketplace and growing awareness of negligence and liability issues are encouraging information professionals to look to a mixture of law, ethics, and self‐interest for personal and professional effectiveness and security.