The document discusses the role of libraries as trusted gateways to knowledge, emphasizing their support for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) ideals of universal access to information and knowledge. It outlines the ethical principles that libraries uphold, such as free speech, privacy rights, and neutrality, while also addressing new ethical challenges like information bubbles and ensuring user privacy. Libraries are portrayed as vital institutions for cultural preservation, intellectual development, and promoting lifelong learning in society.

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Uldis Zarins
National Library of Latvia
Global Meeting of Experts on the Ethical Aspects of Information Society
Riga, 17 October 2013

2. Libraries and WSIS
• Libraries – major actors of knowledge
society
• Supporting WSIS in the action lines:
 Access to information and knowledge
 E-learning, E-science
 Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity
and local content
• Essential partners in the
Information for All Programme

3. Libraries and knowledge society
• Libraries implement in practice the WSIS ideals
of universal access to information and
knowledge for development of inclusive
knowledge societies
• Libraries embody the Article 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, providing:
• Free and equitable access to information resources
• Free and equitable access to ICT
• Free and eqitable assistance to effectively use both

4. Mission of the libraries
• To preserve and safeguard the cultural
heritage of the world
• To provide free and equitable access to
knowledge
• To support the intelectual development of
every member of society
• To promote lifelong learning and information
literacy in society

5. Ethics of librarianship
• Libraries honour the principles of:
– Free speech
– Rights to information
– Rights to privacy
– Transparency
– Neutrality, including net neutrality
– Ethical use of information
• Libraries reject:
– Censorship and other restrictions to access to
information

6. Libraries as trusted institutions
• Collections and services are unbiased and neutral
• Collections contain carefully evaluated publications
of highest quality
• Services are provided on the basis of equality of
access to all and for free, if possible
• Provide advice on the most reliable sources of
online information
• Provide guidance on best practice of access to and
use of information
• Guarantee the privacy of the user and his personal
data

7. New ethical issues in libraries
• How to deal with the information bubble –
and not to create one themselves?
– By acquisition policies
– By digitisation policies
– By digital preservation policies
• Neutral content vs quality content
• Can libraries really ensure the privacy of the
user?

8. Thank you!
Questions?