[Pal-dc] Principles statement for discussion

[Christina de Castell]

Hello everyone,

Thank you to those who have participated so far in drafting a principles statement. I've created a draft that includes areas considered by Makane and Martha in their comments. For the moment, I have not included references to other documents, such as the Lyon Declaration or the Council of Europe Guidelines, however, please offer suggestions on how to incorporate these in the version we upload for public comment.

I will consolidate comments on Thursday afternoon and send another draft version to give you a last chance for feedback before we upload for the August 1 deadline. That version will be open to public comment, and the version as of approximately August 25 will be provided to the MAG meeting in early September.

If you're comfortable with Google docs, you can edit collaboratively via this link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_WWY8os03WXKmEkFveXuUEZ_ukImmys7G5Oa2OdZJVI/edit?usp=sharing

Here is the text for convenience:

Principles on Public Access in Libraries

Introduction:
The UN post-2015 development agenda recognizes that access to information is crucial. Access to information empowers people to exercise their political and socio-economic rights, to be economically active, to learn new skills and to hold their governments to account. While the number of Internet users worldwide now exceeds two billion, a significant percentage do not have their own network connection. Hundreds of millions of people use the Internet through shared connections and through providers of public access such as libraries.

Public libraries are trusted, safe institutions that already exist in many developing countries. They are funded by the taxpayer and embedded in government infrastructure. They partner with civil society, with entrepreneurs and with the private sector. Libraries provide an avenue to achieve ubiquitous public access to the Internet and to ensure that people have the skills they need to access information through technology.

Principles
Libraries have a role in national development through providing access to information. The members of the Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in Libraries assert the following principles:

Infrastructure: Libraries should be recognized as a vehicle to ensure universal access to the Internet. Libraries should be used to initiate universal and affordable infrastructure in developing countries and under-served communities.

Policy: Policies and legislation should create an enabling environment for universal access to information by supporting the role of public libraries in providing public access to ICTs, Internet connectivity and technology training.

Copyright: National and international copyright frameworks should balance the public interest in accessing information with the rights of authors, artists, and publishers by ensuring provisions for libraries and archives to provide public access to the world's knowledge in all formats.

Accessibility: All people, irrespective of gender, race or ethnicity, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, children and youth, should have access to information through ICTs and the skills needed to participate fully in society.

Privacy: Individuals have the right to privacy when they seek information using the Internet. Internet users in public venues such as libraries must not be subject to surveillance of their activities.

Skills development: Libraries should be supported in their role of offering training and skills development in using technology, so that people can access the information and services that they need.

Local content: Through providing technology and offering support, libraries have the capacity to promote and enable the creation of local content and to ensure its preservation. Libraries should be supported in using and facilitating access to open data and open access solutions

Best regards,

Christina

Christina de Castell
Manager, Policy & Advocacy
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 5
2595 BE The Hague, Netherlands

christina.de.castell at ifla.org<mailto:christina.de.castell at ifla.org>
+31-70-3140884


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