National Information Policy - One Definition

Tracy Bedford

(Dickerman, 2005)

     National information policy is difficult to define because it is so broad in scope.  Sandra Braman in her article, “Defining information policy” uses the following definition:

     “Information policy is comprised of laws, regulation, and doctrinal positions – and other decision making and practices with society-wide constitutive effects – involving information creation, processing, laws, access and use.” (Braman 2011)

       The formation of these policies is and will be critical to the future of public libraries and librarianship in general because as mentioned in the above definition, access is a key aspect of information policy.   Public libraries provide a free connection to information and to the internet and technology and therefore to governments and commerce for all people in their communities.  They may be the only publicly funded institution to do so.   Our code of ethics as librarians states that 

     "1. We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources: equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests.”   (Haycock 2008)

     Therefore we are compelled to provide equal and free access to information to all of our citizenry.  This becomes particularly critical when considering our national government’s recent move to a more e-government format.  Many government functions are now handled on the internet.  Congress people can be reached through email, functions such as unemployment aid, taxes and disaster relief are increasingly only available online.  This becomes problematic for citizens who do not have internet access – typically the people who are most in need of government services such as disaster relief and unemployment benefits.  One of the only places where free computer use and internet access is available is the public library. Jaeger points out in his paper on public libraries values trust and e-government that “free services are of most relative value to those who have the fewest resources of their own” (Jaeger 2007)

Reference List

Braman, S. (2011). Defining information policy. Journal of Information Policy 1, 1-5

Dickerman, K. (Photographer). (2005). Almost all libraries offer free web access. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/24/national/24library.html?_r=1

Haycock, K. (2008). The portable mlis : insights from the experts. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Jaeger, P. (2007). Public libraries, values, trust, and e-government. Information Technology and Libraries.