Freedom of access to information and freedom of expression: the Internet as a tool for global social inclusion
| Date | 01 December 2003 |
| Published date | 01 December 2003 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120310501086 |
| Pages | 407-416 |
| Author | Stuart Hamilton,Niels Ole Pors |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Freedom of access to
information and
freedom of expression:
the Internet as a tool
for global social
inclusion
Stuart Hamilton and
Niels Ole Pors
Introduction
There has always been a close and interwoven
relationship between the ideal of democracy
and the visions and missions of the public
libraries. During the last years, one of the
major challenges for public libraries is coping
with the changes in the communication
structure. The digital revolution in society has
forced public libraries to revise their strategies
and activities. One of the present and future
major challenges for public libraries is to deal
with the consequences and opportunities of
the digitalisation of information. One of these
challenges is the Internet. Several studies have
examined public libraries in relation to the
information society in which the Internet is an
integrated part. In this paper, we will focus on
freedom of expression and access to
information as pertinent elements of a
democratic process in which public libraries
can play a vital role. We will use as a starting
point some European projects and
investigations and broaden the picture with
results from an ongoing investigation
conducted by IFLA's Freedom of Access to
Information and Freedom of Expression
(FAIFE) office.
The public library in the future
It is of course extremely difficult to make
realistic predictions about the future.
Predictions tend to be wrong because
development very often takes a turn different
from that envisaged. We can, however, see the
following trends in the library sector: The
move from collection orientation to
orientation towards access to electronic
sources coupled with reductions in budgets
and staff has changed the library sector very
much. We also see a focus on accountability
and alternative forms of financing and income
generation. At the same time the emphasis is
no longer on collections but on users.
Distance access to the library by means of
electronic communication is becoming more
widespread ± at least in some parts of the
world.
It is obvious that the role of libraries will
change quite a lot. Existing libraries cover a
multitude of different functions and a variety
of institutions with different typologies and
institutional basis. In public libraries however,
it is very important to note that borrowing
The authors
Stuart Hamilton(e-mail: SHA@DB.DK) is a PhD Student
and Niels Ole Pors is Associate Professor, both at the
Royal School of Library and Information Science,
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Keywords
Internet, Information, Social inclusion
Abstract
This paper explores how the relationship between
freedom of access to information and freedom of
expression is expressed across the international library
community. Specifically, it analyses this relationship in the
setting of Internet access in libraries where the Internet
has been seen as a tool for fostering democracy and
furthering social inclusion. Using preliminary analysis of
data collected from a global survey of Internet access
issues within the International Federation of Library
Associations and Institutions (IFLA) member countries
(2003), and by comparing this data with a survey of
European library institutions carried out in 2002, the
paper shows the extent to which libraries ± from the point
of view of national associations and national libraries ±
are able to use the Internet to promote freedom of access
to information and freedom of expression despite the
existence of barriers to this task.
Electronic access
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is
available at
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
available at
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
Theme article
407
Library Management
Volume 24 .Number 8/9 .2003 .pp. 407-416
#MCB UP Limited .ISSN 0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/01435120310501086
To continue reading
Request your trial