An Independent Information Professional is an entrepreneur who has demonstrated continuing expertise in the art of finding and organizing information. Each provides information services on a contractual basis to more than one client and serves as an objective intermediary between the client and the information world.

An Information Professional bears the following responsibilities:

• Uphold the profession's reputation for honesty, competence, and confidentiality.
• Give clients the most current and accurate information possible within the budget and time frames provided by the clients.
• Help clients understand the sources of information used and the degree of reliability which can be expected from those sources.
• Accept only those projects which are legal and are not detrimental to our profession.
• Respect client confidentiality.
• Recognize intellectual property rights. Respect licensing agreements and other contracts. Explain to clients what their obligations might be with regard to intellectual property rights and licensing agreements.
• Maintain a professional relationship with libraries and other information providers and comply with all their rules of access.
• Assume responsibility for employees' compliance with this code.

Based upon the Code of Ethical Business Practice of the Association of Independent Information Professionals, 2002