From Gatekeeper to Gateway to Gate-Opener: The Changing Role of Libraries (and How We Talk About It)

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The emergence of the internet has undoubtedly revolutionised the information landscape, taking us from a situation of information scarcity to one of abundance. This has of course massively affected the role of libraries, which can no-longer claim any sort of monopoly on provision of access to information, at least beyond that which people’s personal libraries […]

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A Right to Anonymity?

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With recent reforms in Austria set to remove the possibility to leave anonymous comments on the internet, the question of the right to anonymity is on the agenda. The justification for the reforms in Austria is concern about the rise of ‘hate speech’, and the sense that anonymity can give people the possibility to spread […]

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Going Beyond – Promoting Vulnerable Voices in Libraries

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IFLA’s Intellectual Freedom Statement turns 20 in 2019. This is the first in a series offering perspectives, and raising questions, about its different provisions.    A recent TechDirt blog highlighted an effort by Cloudfare – one of the biggest companies offering content delivery services on the internet – to protect particular sites and services. Through its Project […]

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World Press Freedom Day 2019

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By providing access to information, knowledge, ideas and opinions, libraries everywhere uphold the value of intellectual freedom as the basis of an informed, democratic society. They do this both by acting as the guardians of manuscripts, documents and books, and as a place where anyone can access the information they contain. Press publications already form […]

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Why Privacy Matters, For Everyone: Chose Privacy Week 2019

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Choose Privacy Week was initiated by the American Library Association to draw attention to the importance of privacy, and what people can do about it. It is a great opportunity to learn about the important role librarians play in achieving this. This year’s theme of Choose Privacy Week is “Inclusive Privacy: Closing the Gap”, and […]

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Four Dimensions of Data Protection in Libraries

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Scandals around the collection and use of personal information appear to be reaching a critical mass. The first cases brought against companies under the General Data Protection Regulation are coming to court in Europe, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has declared that he wants to focus more on privacy. Stories of major data breaches regularly […]

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What is the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and why libraries should get involved

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There is little doubt about the importance of human rights in the library world. Outside too, few will dismiss them openly, even if their actions speak differently. However, there are concerns about their enforcement – what use are principles if they are not turned into reality? Many countries have of course integrated many (most) aspects […]

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Digital Cooperation Day Three: How can libraries play a strong role in partnerships and decision-making related to the internet?

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The final day of our consultation on IFLA’s response to the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation looks at how we can give libraries a stronger role in decision-making about digital issues. As highlighted in previous blogs, libraries already have a strong record of cooperation. The sorts of partnership involved vary according to […]

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Digital Cooperation Day Two: What can libraries contribute in the key areas where digital cooperation is required?

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Day two of our consultation on IFLA’s response to call for contributions launched by the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation focuses on how libraries can make a difference to the challenges set out. Why cooperate? Libraries have long worked with others – governments, partners – in order to provide better services, going beyond […]

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Digital Cooperation Day One: What values and principles should we bear in mind when taking decisions about the internet?

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In the first of three blogs about the questions the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation is asking in its call for submissions, we’re focusing on values. Which values should lie behind any effort to build agreements and decide on actions concerning the internet? We’ll be incorporating your answers into our final […]

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