Free access

From SLNSW

Free access to information

The Library Council of New South Wales Access to Information in New South Wales Public Libraries Guideline states that

1. A public library has a role as an unbiased source of information and ideas, including online content. It must accept responsibility for providing free access to materials and information presenting, as far as possible, all points of view on current and historical issues, including controversial issues.
2. Libraries should endeavour to provide access to comprehensive and balanced collections that meet the needs of their communities as far as budget, space and availability of materials allow.
3. Library materials that have not been subject to Federal and State restriction or prohibition should not be excluded from a public library on moral, political, racial, religious, sexist, language, or other sensitive grounds alone. Nor should library materials be included on these grounds alone, whatever pressure may be brought to bear by individuals or groups.
4. The arrangement of the collection should facilitate access. Restricting access to certain titles or classes of materials, eg. by holding them in special collections available on request, can be an indirect form of censorship. No materials should be held in closed access except for the express purpose of protecting them from injury, theft or due to Office of Film and Literature Classification restrictions.1
5. Adult collections should not be limited because of the possibility that materials may fall into the hands of children. Monitoring the reading of children is the responsibility of their parents or guardians.
6. Everyone has the right to use a public library whatever their age, sex, race, religion, cultural identity, language, disability, socioeconomic status, individual lifestyle, political allegiance or social views.
7. Library clients must be sensitive to the values and beliefs of others when displaying potentially controversial information or images on computer screens located in public areas (see explanatory note). Where a client is found to be using Library computers to access pornographic, offensive or objectionable material, or for any unlawful purpose, the Library reserves the right to direct the client to leave the Library, to direct that the client not re-enter the Library for a specified period and to report unlawful conduct to the relevant authorities
8. The Library Council does not support the use of censoring software as it inhibits free access to information (see 3) and it does not provide adequate protection for children from all material that may be harmful on the Internet.
9. The Library Council supports the right and responsibility of parents and guardians to direct the use of the Internet by their children. Parents and guardians who wish to limit or restrict access by their children should personally oversee their use of the Internet and other forms of electronic information.
10. Librarians should not exercise censorship in the selection of materials by rejecting, solely on the grounds mentioned in (3), material which is otherwise relevant and which meets the standards of the library concerned.
11. Notwithstanding their opposition to censorship, librarians must strictly observe laws, which may ban or restrict access to certain material.
12. Librarians have a role in educating clients in the safe and informed use of the Internet, guided by acceptable use policies.

You can also consult the Australia Library and Information Association (ALIA) policy on free access to information which states that: Freedom can be protected in a democratic society only if its citizens have unrestricted access to information and ideas.

It continues by saying that: There are several different levels at which the free flow of ideas can be impeded. At the societal level, legislative bodies of all kinds are expected to consider the legal and regulatory frameworks they put in place to support the free flow of information and ideas about the interests and concerns of citizens. At the institutional level, library and information services are expected to encourage the free flow of information and ideas within the scope of their roles and responsibilities. At the individual level, citizens are expected to make informed decisions in exercising their rights and responsibilities.

The Australian Library and Information Association believes that library and information services have particular responsibilities in supporting and sustaining the free flow of information and ideas including:

1. asserting the equal and equitable rights of citizens to information regardless of age, race, gender, religion, disability, cultural identity, language, socioeconomic status, lifestyle choice, political allegiance or social viewpoint;
2. adopting an inclusive approach in developing and implementing policies regarding access to information and ideas that are relevant to the library and information service concerned, irrespective of the controversial nature of the information or ideas;
3. ensuring that their clients have access to information from a variety of sources and agencies to meet their needs and that a citizen's information needs are met independently of location and an ability to pay;
4. catering for interest in contemporary issues without promoting or suppressing particular beliefs and ideas;
5. protecting the confidential relationships that exist between the library and information service and its clients;
6. resisting attempts by individuals or groups within their communities to restrict access to information and ideas while at the same time recognising that powers of censorship are legally vested in state and federal governments;
7. observing laws and regulations governing access to information and ideas but working towards the amendment of those laws and regulations which inhibit library and information services in meeting the obligations and responsibilities outlined in this Statement.

ALIA Statement on free access to information Adopted 2001

Related documents

Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Statement on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom

Exercises

• Do your policies and service provision comply with the policies listed on this page?