IFLA Guidelines on Public Internet Access in Libraries

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Library and information professionals

Cooke, L. (ed.) and IFLA Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) Expert Advisory Group, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

2019

“These Guidelines are presented by the IFLA Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) Advisory Committee. The overall objective of IFLA FAIFE is “to raise awareness of the essential correlation between the library concept and the values of intellectual freedom” (IFLA FAIFE 2018). As an organisation deeply committed to the values of intellectual freedom, IFLA opposes censorship of any form, including the use of filtering software.

However, it is recognised that librarians and other information professionals need to operate within the limits of local and national legal frameworks, whilst simultaneously taking an informed ethical stance against any constraints on access to information. Librarians and other information professionals are uniquely placed and qualified to advise their host organisations, and to take the lead role in decision-making, concerning any legal requirements for constraints on access and for eliminating any unnecessary constraints on access.

The Guidelines, therefore, are intended to act as a framework of fundamental principles to support all those responsible for decision-making with regard to the provision of public Internet access, and to provide them with a tool for advocacy, such that they are supported in the difficult task of prioritising consideration for intellectual freedom while maintaining appropriate use of their services as required by their core organisation and community norms.”

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SDGs LINKAGES

The resource supports a range of SDGs and targets, including 4.4 (staff skills), 1.4 (ensuring everyone can access services), 4.5 (removing barriers in education faced by particular social groups), 4.A (effective learning environment), 5.B (promoting women and girls’ use of information and communications technology), 9.1 (sustainable and inclusive infrastructure for economic development and wellbeing), 10.2 (promote universal social, economic and political inclusion), 11.7 (safe, welcoming and inclusive public spaces), 16.6 (effective, accountable and transparent institutions), and 16.10 (which covers both people’s rights of access to information, and protecting rights and freedoms such as freedom of expression and copyright), and 16.B (upholding and adopting laws and policies for sustainable development). Access to information also supports SDG 17.16 (sharing knowledge and information as part of a renewed global partnership for sustainable development).

Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators

SDG 1.4: Equal Rights to Ownership, Basic Services, Technology and Economic Resources
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Numbers and proportions of people from particular groups using collections in comparison with demographics in broader society.
Numbers of people accessing collections.
Number of targeted programmes that aim to enhance access to collections by disadvantaged groups.
Sustainable tourism that enhances local communities’ access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property (including cultural and natural heritage), as well as to technology and markets.
Involvement of people from disadvantaged groups in decision-making activities and processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
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SDG 4.4: Increase the Number of People with Relevant Skills for Financial Success
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of young people and adults in skills-development activities and programmes drawing on collections, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
Increase in number of young people and adults in such programmes.
Number and proportion of staff who have received training in the last year, to better support their contribution to the SDGs.
Programs and processes in place to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce.
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SDG 4.5: Eliminate all Discrimination in Education
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of educational and/or training programmes drawing on collections directed to eliminate gender disparities in education.
Number of educational and/or training programmes drawing on collections directed to meet the particular needs of persons with disabilities.
Number of educational and/or training programmes drawing on collections directed to meet the particular needs of Indigenous peoples’ groups.
Number of educational and/or training programmes drawing on collections directed to meet the particular needs of children in vulnerable situations.
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SDG 4.A: Build and Upgrade Inclusive and Safe Schools
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive.
Proportion of education facilities that provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.
Number and type of initiatives to improve effectiveness of learning environments.
Support given to other education facilities to make them more inclusive and effective.
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SDG 5.B: Promote Empowerment of Women Through Technology
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of programmes that support ICT skills, notably for girls and women.
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SDG 9.1: Develop Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructures
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Development of research-useful collections to support reliable, sustainable and resilient use by researchers and others.
Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that support economic development and human well-being.
Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that provide affordable and equitable access for all.
Investment in collections facilities.
Inclusion of collections information in regional and transborder initiatives, notably via digital access for discoverability.
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SDG 10.2: Promote Universal Social Economic and Political Inclusion
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of social or other status.
Numbers and proportions of people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
Numbers and proportions of people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
Numbers and proportions of people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with marginalized groups, individuals and communities.
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SDG 11.7: Provide Access to Safe and Inclusive Green and Public Spaces
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Numbers of people accessing collecting institutions from different demographic groups, notably women, children, older people and persons with disabilities.
Increases in numbers of people accessing collecting institutions from different demographic groups.
Measures taken to remove barriers to access green and public spaces.
Extent of green space provided by collections institutions.
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SDG 16.6: Develop Effective Accountable and Transparent Institutions
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of the population [audience/users/non-users] satisfied with their last experience of public services.
Access to information, and accountability policies and mechanisms, in place.
Effective institutional arrangements, both for own working and for working in partnership with other sectors, in place.
Plans and arrangements in place for extraordinary circumstances such as natural and human-caused disasters.
Effective arrangements in place to fulfil legal and social obligations and responsibilities.
Effective arrangements in place for transparent communication and reporting of institutional performance.
Effective arrangements in place for transparent decision-making and accountability.
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SDG 16.10: Ensure Public Access to Information and Protect Fundamental Freedoms
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.
Plans in place, and plans implemented to enhance public access to information relating to collections.
Plans in place, and plans implemented to support fundamental freedoms, in line with human rights, national and international agreements and legislation.
Plans and procedures in place for public access to information relating to the operation and management of collections-based institutions.
Complaint mechanism in place for public to use where public access to information and fundamental freedoms not supported or fulfilled.
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SDG 16.B: Promote and Enforce Non-Discriminatory Laws and Policies
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
Number and proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, in the full sense of recognizing all three of social, economic and environmental considerations.
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SDG 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of global and international multi-stakeholder partnerships that share collection-related knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to address the SDGs, or that otherwise involve collections-based organisations and institutions.
Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of global and international multi-stakeholder partnerships involving developing countries that share collection-related knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to address the SDGs.
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