ALA's position on access to electronic information, part two

[Marti Anderson]

Here is the rest of the message Mike forwarded to LM_Net about ALA's 
position on access to electronic information.

:-)   Marti Anderson
mailto:marti at inwave.com

Subject: 
        Part II: ALA Q&A on Access to Electronic Information, Services 
and Networks 
  Date: 
        Sun, 8 Jun 1997 22:34:18 -0400 
  From: 
        Mike Eisenberg <mike at ERICIR.SYR.EDU>
    To: 
        LM_NET at LISTSERV.SYR.EDU


Part II -


Date: Fri, 06 Jun 1997 08:56:38 -0500
From: Cynthia Robinson <crobinso at ala.org>

Subject: Q&A on Access to Electronic Information, Services and Networks



13.  Does our library have to make provisions for  patrons with
disabilities to access
electronic information?

Yes. The Americans With Disabilities Act and other federal and state
laws forbid providers of public services, whether publicly or privately
governed, from discriminating against individuals with disabilities.  
All
library information services, including access to electronic 
information,
should be accessible to patrons regardless of disability.

Many methods are available and under development to make electronic
information universally accessible, including adaptive devices, 
software,
and human assistance. Libraries must consider such tools in trying to
meet the needs of persons with disabilities in the design or provision 
of
electronic information services.

EQUITY OF ACCESS

14.  My library recognizes different classes of users.  Is this a
problem?

The mission and objectives of some libraries recognizes distinctions
between classes of users.  For example, academic libraries may have
different categories of users (e.g., faculty, students, others).  Public
libraries may distinguish between residents and non-residents.  School
library media centers embrace curricular support as their primary
mission; some have further expanded access to their collections.
Special libraries vary their access policies depending on their 
definition
of primary clientele.  Establishing different levels of users should not
automatically assume the need for different levels of access.

15.  Does the statement that "electronic information, services,
and networks provided directly or indirectly by the library
should be equally, readily, and equitably available to all library
users" mean that exactly the same service must be available to
anyone who wants to use the library?

No.  It means that access to services should not be denied on the basis
of an arbitrary classification, for example, age or physical ability to 
use
the equipment.  This phrase, from "Economic Barriers to Information
Access: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights," clarifies that
simply making printed information sources available to those unable to
pay while charging for electronic information sources abridges the
principles of equality and equity.

16.  Which is a higher priority to offer more information or not to
charge fees?  Does this mean my library cannot charge fees?

The higher priority is free services.  Charging fees creates barriers to
access.  That is why ALA has urged librarians, in "Economic Barriers to
Information Access," to "resist the temptation to impose user fees to
alleviate financial pressures, at long term cost to institutional 
integrity
and
public confidence in libraries."

17.  Does "provision of information services" include printouts?

Whenever possible, all services should be without fees.  Any decision to
charge for service should be based on whether the fee creates a barrier
to access.  For example, some libraries have long provided free access
to printed magazines while charging for photocopies.  Translated to the
electronic environment, this means that some libraries will provide the
text on the screen at no charge, but might charge for printouts.

18.  If my library has no "major support from public funds," can
we then charge fees?

Yes, but ALA advocates achieving equitable access and avoiding and
eliminating barriers to information and ideas whenever possible.

19.  What do you do if one person monopolizes the equipment?

This is a policy issue to be established within each library according 
to
its mission and goals.  Time, place, and manner restrictions should be
applied equitably to all users.

INFORMATION RESOURCES AND ACCESS

20.  How does providing connections to "global information,
services, and networks" differ from selecting and purchasing
material for an individual library?

Selection begins with the institution's mission and objectives.  The
librarian performs an initial selection from available resources, and 
then
the user makes a choice from that collection.  Many electronic 
resources,
such as CDs,  are acquired for the library's collection in this 
traditional
manner.  Collections consist of fixed discrete items.

When libraries provide Internet access, they provide a means for people
to use the wealth of information stored on computers throughout the
world, whose ever-changing contents are created, maintained and made
available beyond the library.  The library also provides a means for the
individual user to choose for him or herself the resources accessed and
to interact electronically with other computer users throughout the 
world.

21. How can libraries use their selection expertise to help
patrons use the Internet?

Libraries should play a proactive role in guiding parents to the most
effective locations and answers.  Library websites are one starting
place to the vast resources of the Internet.  All libraries are 
encouraged
to develop websites, including links, to Internet resources to meet the
information needs of their users.  These links should be made within the
existing mission, collection development policy and selection criteria 
of
the library.

22.  Should the library deny access to Constitutionally protected
speech on the Internet in order to protect its users or reflect
community values?

No.  The library should not deny access to constitutionally-protected
speech.  People have a right to receive constitutionally-protected
speech, and any restriction of those rights imposed by a library 
violates
the U.S. Constitution.

23.  Does using software that filters or blocks access to
electronic information resources on the Internet violate this
policy?

The use of filters implies a promise to protect the user from 
objectionable
material.  This task is impossible given current technology and the 
inability
to define absolutely the information to be blocked.

The filters available would place the library in a position of 
restricting
access to information.  The library's role is to provide access to
information from which individuals choose the material for themselves.

Technology could be developed that would allow individual users of
public terminals to exercise a choice to impose restrictions on their 
own
searches.  If these types of filters become available, libraries should
carefully scrutinize them in light of their mission and goals.

24.  Why do libraries have an obligation to provide government
information in electronic format?

The role of libraries is to provide ideas and information across the
spectrum of social and political thought and to make these ideas and 
this
information available to anyone who needs or wants it.  In a democracy
libraries have a particular obligation to provide library users with
information necessary for participation in self-governance. Because
access to government information is rapidly shifting to electronic 
format
only, libraries should  plan to continue to provide access to 
information in
this format, as well.

25. What is the library's role in the preservation of electronic
formats?

The on-line electronic medium is ephemeral and information may
disappear without efforts to save it.  When libraries create 
information,
they have the responsibility to preserve and archive it, if it meets the
library's mission statement.

26.  Does "must support access to information on all subjects..."
mean a library must provide material on all subjects for all
users, even if those users are not part of the library's
community of users or the material is not appropriate for the
library?

The institution's mission and objectives will drive these decisions.

27.   The Interpretation states that libraries should not deny
access to resources solely because they are perceived to lack
value.  Does this mean the library must buy or obtain every
electronic resource available?

No.  The institution's mission and objectives will drive these 
decisions.

28.  How can the library avoid becoming a game room and still
provide access to this material?

Libraries sometimes seek to prohibit the playing of computer games
because the demand for terminals exceeds the supply.  The libraries
impose time, place or manner restrictions to the use of electronic
equipment and resources.  Such  restrictions should not be based on the
viewpoint expressed in the information being accessed.

29. Do copyright laws apply to electronic information?

Yes. Librarians have an ethical responsibility to keep abreast of
copyright and fair use rights.  This responsibility applies to:

        1. the library's own on-line publications,

        2. contractual obligations with authors and publishers,

        3. informing library users of copyright laws which apply to 
their
             use of electronic information.



- end Part II -