This study explores the ethical concerns and familiarity with metaverse technologies among global library professionals. It aims to understand their attitudes towards developing and implementing ethical guidelines for metaverse technologies in library environments. The study also investigates key ethical issues such as privacy, security, intellectual property, accessibility and inclusivity in the context of library metaverse technologies. The research method employed a quantitative survey-based design to assess library professionals’ ethical perspectives regarding using the metaverse, augmented reality, virtual reality and other immersive technologies. A total of 144 respondents participated in the study, providing insights into their knowledge, concerns and attitudes towards ethical standards in digital and virtual technologies. The data was collected through a structured online questionnaire. The findings indicate that library professionals are generally concerned about the ethical implications of metaverse technologies, particularly regarding user privacy, security and safety. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.