Statements:

Anderson
Braman
Ford
Glinski
Hurych
Schaffner

Differences in wealth and status, particularly less of or the lack of same, can work to deprive some citizens of this free access to information. In response, a democracy has fostered the creation of public institutions, like libraries, to provide information resources to all who want to use them, regardless of an individual's ability to pay. Governments, whether local or national, have long held the responsibility for providing libraries with the resources necessary to collect information and make it freely accessible to citizens. 

New information technologies, particularly electronic technologies, have the potential to provide people with the same kinds of information outside the library system. These capabilities are not free, however. Because new technologies are expensive and sophisticated to maintain and operate, they can work to limit information access to those who can pay for and operate these technologies. In addition, political pressures for the devolution of national and even regional governmental powers and authority threaten to health of those public institutions which work to serve the information needs of the less advantaged, including providing access to these new electronic resources and the assistance in operating them. 

While on the one hand there are calls for devolution of central government, at the same time there are also strong political pressures calling for government to exert more control over the new information technology to prevent misuse of these new systems. There are also strong calls for non-interference with the new electronic media so as to preserve maximum freedom of access. 

The challenge for established democratic governments is to ensure that all citizens have equitable access to information while minimizing the potential for abuse without curtailing or infringing on individuals' rights to access to information. 

Sandra Braman 
My position on the relationship between information technologies and the practice of democracy is that they can facilitate the multiple practices of genuine participatory democracy -- but that is only a potential, and the same technologies can also be used in support of other types of political regimes, including those that are repressive. Increased democratic practice is not a necessary outcome (though I do feel it is encouraged by the Internet, as it was by the book). 

LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS AND THE INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Barbara J. Ford, President, American Library Association 
Library professionals form organizations at the local, regional, national and international levels to accomplish goals, effect change, influence policy, and maintain currency. Professional organizations guide change by providing an infrastructure that creates a climate for innovation. Having strong goals and principles is essential for library associations. Fundamental rethinking of processes and structures in the face of economic trends and technology is essential. Creativity can enable organizations to take a practice from another association or culture and adapt it to local needs. As we move to a global society, a solution developed in one part of the world may address a need in another part. 

Libraries activate human potential through knowledge, ideas and information. Library associations serve as the voice of the library and information profession and a source of leadership on information policy, intellectual freedom and intellectual participation. Diversity is honored in the professional body and in library collections and services. Librarianship focuses on individuals in all their uniqueness. Education and continuous learning are key priorities, and libraries promote continuous, lifelong learning for all people through library and information services of all types. Equity of access to information and electronic resources are essential and must be provided by libraries. This includes access to the fundamental tools and materials of intellectual participation regardless of income, location, ethnicity, or age of the information seeker. 

Library associations can advocate funding and policies that support libraries as great democratic institutions, serving people of all ages, income level, location, or ethnicity, and providing the full range of information resources needed to live, learn, govern, and work. 

Intellectual freedom is a basic right in a democratic society, is a core value of the library profession, and is fundamental to democratic processes and full intellectual participation. Library associations can actively defend the right of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely. Twenty-first century literacy is recognized as a fundamental skill for continuous lifelong learning. This includes basic literacy, which is the ability to read, and information literacy, which is the ability to effectively utilize information resources. Library associations assist and promote libraries in helping children and adults develop the skills they need -- whether the ability to read or use computers -- understanding that the ability to seek and effectively utilize information resources (information literacy) is essential in a global information society. 

Technology has expanded the global reach and local touch of libraries and library associations. The expansion of electronic networks linking libraries and their resources makes possible more, better, and more easily accessible information for library users around the world. Libraries support a globally competitive workforce with basic literacy programs, computers, and other resources to help children and adults learn to find, evaluate, and use information they need for their jobs, health, education, and other needs. If peoples of the world are to enjoy free and open access to information in the next century, we must convince local, national and international leaders of the vital importance of libraries and librarians. Libraries provide a forum for global dialogue and idea-sharing that can lead to improvements in governments and cultural institutions. Libraries are part of the solution to many problems related to illiteracy, unemployment, poverty, and lack of educational resources. Libraries provide insights into the history, customs and traditions of global cultures that can lead to greater understanding and help to resolve problems and conflicts in our countries. 

Libraries have the responsibility to provide the collections, services, and technology that will help citizens understand our increasingly diverse societies and prosper in the new world economy. We must unite with colleagues around the world in addressing funding, information equity, copyright and other issues that will shape the global information infrastructure. Today's libraries offer access to worldwide information resources and local accessibility. As librarians, we have the responsibility to facilitate the flow of communication. We understand how to organize and present information and how people use information once they have it. International cooperation will further transform the library's role from warehouses for books to electronic information-delivery centers. 

Our challenge now is to take a larger role on the world state. We need to lead our associations in addressing critical issues that will shape the global information infrastructure. We need to urge members of the public and policy makers to use and support libraries as multi-cultural institutions that connect even the smallest and most remote communities to global resources. As important and exciting as new technology is, it is the local touch that sets our libraries apart and will ensure their future as treasured institutions in the next century and beyond. 

POLISH GOVERNMENT, POLICY, LIBRARIES, AND INFORMATION PROFESSIONS.
Dr. Wieslaw Glinski, Assistant Professor, Institute of Information Science and Bibliological Studies,
University of Warsaw 
Issues:  Complicated structure of the network of Polish Libraries.  Decentralized system of Polish libraries.  Limited support from the governmental institution for libraries.  Lack of clear regulations relating to libraries and information policy (different regulations for different libraries).  Lack of accreditation process for libraries and educational institutions. Lack of one strong professional organization (representing librarians and information specialists). 

LIBRARIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Jitka Hurych, Head, Science, Engineering, and Business Library,  Founders Memorial Library,
Northern Illinois University 
Czech library literature of the 1990's has been referring to a process of integrating libraries in the program of educational, research, and cultural policy of the country. Under the new political regime, it has been often stated that success of libraries will be no longer measured by ideology but by their services, and by their responding to the information needs of their users. However, at the present time, Czech libraries are not always able to fulfill their mission and deliver needed information to their users, especially when it comes to information and materials from the world collections and systems. Moreover, searching for information as well as its delivery often remain a demanding, time-consuming, and expensive task. 

There are may reasons for this situation. Some of the past practices which limited and regulated access to information are still alive, e.g., there is a rather artificial separation of the so called scholarly information centers from the regular library services. This results in viewing libraries as old-fashioned places for lending books rather than centers of information. Therefore, society's awareness of libraries as institutions of information and learning has not been fully realized. Even after several years of radical changes in the political climate of the country, the role of information for the development of a democratic society has not been properly appreciated and financially supported. 

The laws that have been governing libraries, as well as the new tax laws, are not satisfactory and do not reflect the notion that libraries provide useful services for the citizens of the country. As a result of a lack of a strong information policy, there is still very little cooperation and coordination among libraries of all kinds. Where there is cooperation, it is given more by organization within certain governing bodies (e.g., Ministries or Academies) than by users' information needs and demands. However, the Czech government has already recognized the importance of access to information, including access to international information systems, for building a strong information infrastructure. These steps are as follows: 

• To equip libraries and information centers with modern computers and telecommunication networks. 
• To ensure access to international library information programs. 
• To ensure access to collections and information sources via the Internet. 
• To raise effectiveness of libraries' functions and services. 
• To develop programs of communications and computer literacy of citizens through emphasis on life-long learning. 

Bradley Schaffner,  Head, Library Slavic Department , University of Kansas 
A major challenge facing libraries and scholarly institutions in Eastcentral Europe is providing "democratic," or universal, access to information. Most libraries will find it impossible to acquire many important scholarly publications, both in paper and electronic formats, due to their high cost. (It should be noted that libraries around the world are attempting to deal with this problem.) While increased government funding for libraries will provide some assistance, it will not solve the basic problem of increasing acquisition and access costs. As long as scholars turn their research over to for-profit publishers, the cost of providing access to this material will continue to rise. 

In most cases, scholars and teachers must turn their writing and research over to for-profit publishers for distribution because there are few other alternatives. The publishers, in turn, sell these publications back to the very scholarly institutions that created the work at exorbitant prices. In some cases, the prices are so high that libraries in East Central Europe, as well institutions in the rest of the world, can no longer afford to acquire the basic publications needed to support the teaching and research needs of their patrons. This situation is complicated with the advent of electronic publishing. While there are a number of good scholarly electronic resources available at no charge, there are as many or more resources that are too expensive to acquire or use. 

The countries of East Central Europe are at a crossroads in their development. Many libraries are working to provide improved access to information and electronic resources will play a key role. They are beginning to convert their paper card catalogs to an electronic format and are working to provide their patrons with access the Internet, the World Wide Web, and numerous other electronic publications that are available. In the course of developing this electronic infrastructure, academic institutions in the region should be encouraged to consider providing an alternative to for-profit publishers for the dissemination of scholarly information. Electronic formats could be utilized in the creation of a publication system with high scholarly standards at a cost that libraries in the regions could afford. Electronic publishing available on the World Wide Web is relatively easy to access, even from remote locations. 

Universities in the United States are already working to develop such an alternative to the for-profit publication of scholarly information. With the proper support, scholarly institutions and libraries in East Central Europe could be in an ideal situation to develop a similar project. By producing reasonably priced publications scholarly institutions can help themselves meet the challenge of ensuring democratic and universal access to information.