Issues in Providing Information Access and Services

IS 530

Fall 2006

Dr. Dania Bilal

Issues

• Stress and burnout

• Staffing the reference desk

• Evaluation of reference transactions

• Professional ethics

• Protecting the user’s right of access

Issues

• Barriers to information access– Technical

• Absolete formats• Outdated collection• Information organization

– Physical• Persons with disabilities: mobility restrictions,

technology requiring visual and manual abilities to operate

Issues

• Cultural barriers

• Economic barriers

• Government information policy

• Library policy

Resources

• http://www.ala.org/work/freedom/lbr.html Library Bill of Rights

• http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/ethics.htm Code of Ethics • http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/freeread.html Freedom to

Read Statement • http://www.ala.org/work/freedom/interprt.htm

Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights• http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/issues.html Intellectual

Freedom Issues • http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/celebrating.html#ptftr

Sample Intellectual Freedom Statements• http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaprotools/issuesinaccess/

issuesaccess.htm RUSA website