The Nation's Libraries & Information Policy

Information policy dictates the rights and responsibilities pertaining to the acquisition, usage, keeping and distribution of information. Libraries in the United States have long been the leader in providing information to the public. A nationwide network of libraries has evolved over the past century that enables people to gain access to knowledge. This system of public, academic, virtual and school libraries was not developed or implemented by any national governing body.  The main goal of this national network of libraries is to provide unrestricted access to information thus ensuring a better-informed public. This is imperative to the preservation of the democracy.  Libraries must continue to develop and uphold policies that support their goals and mission.  

The following are a few key issues must be considered and safeguarded with the creation and application of information policies:

Intellectual Freedom: "Intellectual freedom can exist only where two essential conditions are met: first, that all individuals have the right to hold any belief on any subject and to convey their ideas in any form they deem appropriate, and second, that society makes an equal commitment to the right of unrestricted access to information and ideas regardless of the communication medium used, the content of work, and the viewpoints of both the author and the receiver of information. "Intellectual Freedom Manual, 7th edition

ALA actively advocates in defense of the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment.  A publicly supported library provides free and equal access to information for all people of that community.  We enjoy this basic right in our democratic society.  It is a core value of the library profession (Intellectual Freedom, 2011).

Equity of Access: The ALA states “Equity of access means that all people have the information they need-regardless of age, education, ethnicity, language, income, physical limitations or geographic barriers. It means they are able to obtain information in a variety of formats-electronic, as well as print. It also means they are free to exercise their right to know without fear of censorship or reprisal” (Equity of Access, 2011).

Access to Information: The ALA states “Libraries are major sources of information for society and they serve as guardians of the public’s access to information more generally. The advent of the digital world has revolutionized how the public obtains its information and how libraries provide it. Libraries help ensure that Americans can access the information they need – regardless of age, education, ethnicity, language, income, physical limitations or geographic barriers – as the digital world continues to evolve. Core values of the library community such as equal access to information, intellectual freedom, and the objective stewardship and provision of information must be preserved and strengthened in the evolving digital world” (Access to Information , 2011).

Libraries must present strong missions that are backed up with written policies and justly enforced.   Libraries must safeguard the previously stated key issues to do their part in ensuring an informed public and thusly persevering democracy. 

Works Cited

Access to Information . (2011). Retrieved November 13, 2011, from American Library Association : http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/access/accesstoinformation/index.cfm

Equity of Access. (2011). Retrieved November 13, 2011, from American Library Association : http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/access/equityofaccess/index.cfm

Intellectual Freedom. (2011). Retrieved November 13, 2011, from American Library Association: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/intfreedom/index.cfm

By Annee Imle