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A special project of the Australian Library and Information Association
Information Rights Day
Monday 14 May 2001
Monday 14 May 2001 is the first Information Rights Day in Australia. Marking the beginning of LIW2001, the day aims to raise awareness of everyone's democratic and equal right to information, for the benefit of the individual and of society. ALIA encourages libraries and information agencies to play a leadership role within their communities by hosting and promoting programs for the Information Rights Day.
Information rights is an issue for all libraries and information services. The Information Rights Day is an opportunity:
- to increase public awareness of information policy issues and to establish dialogue with politicians and administrators.
- to work with groups in the community concerned with freedom of information.
- to profile librarians and your library as leaders in protecting and enhancing public access to information.
Key policy issues include:
- equitable access to information - the information 'rich' and the information 'poor';
- censorship and copyright;
- access to government information;
- privacy concerns;
- information literacy.
This Information Rights Day kit has been developed to support local endeavours. Suggested activities range from seeking political endorsement of the Information Rights Day proclamation, to public education programs on access and privacy issues. It is adopted from material produced by the Canadian Library Association in 2000.
The Information Rights Day kit includes a sample proclamation, programming suggestions and a bibliography. The kit also includes relevant ALIA policy statements.
ALIA would like to publicise your Information Rights Day activities on ALIAnet and to the media - so please inform us of your activities by contacting alw@alia.org.au.nospam or 02 6215 8222.
ALIA wishes you the best of success with your Information Rights Day.
Suggested activities
Appoint an Information Rights Day co-ordinator
This will help to focus attention on Information Rights Day within your organisation. It will also provide a point of contact for other groups celebrating the day.
Community coalitions
Take advantage of Information Rights Day to co-sponsor programs with other organisations and begin building community-based coalitions to support libraries and other community organisations concerned about protecting access to information. These groups can become an important focus for lobbying politicians and educating the community on information policy issues. Working with other groups will also broaden your understanding of the many issues involved in information policy and the different angles taken by various groups.
Information Rights Day proclamation
If you are a public librarian, have your advisory committee or Friends of Library group endorse the Information Rights Day proclamation and forward it to your local council for official proclamation. If there is not time this year, plan to do it early next year for Information Rights Day 2002. Use the proclamation as an opportunity to draw local attention to information policy issues. The proclamation can also be incorporated into your displays. Arrange for a press conference or media event where the mayor presents the proclamation to the library or local coalition supporting Information Rights Day.
Information Rights Day luncheon
Organise a luncheon and invite prominent politicians or information rights advocates to speak at it. The luncheon need not be an elaborate affair and can be self-funding or can be simply a brown-bag event. Remember to invite the press.
Lobby politicians
Arrange for library and community group representatives to lobby local and state/territory politicians on issues such as Freedom of Information legislation, funding for library and information services, regional community access to high-speed networks, support for community computer networks, access to government information and government depository programs and charges.
Library displays
Most of the information policy issues about public access and privacy are unknown to the public. Displays of books, graphs, and legislation which highlight the issues would increase the profile and understanding of these issues. A bibliography of some of the material in this area is attached for your information. Articles about local telecommunications policy and state developments could also be used to provide local as well as national issues. ALIA's LIW promotional posters and cards can be used to for promoting also the Information Rights Day. They are available for purchase from the ALIA National Office and can be viewed at http://alia.org.au/advocacy/alw/.
Creation of bibliographies and selected reading lists
Preparation of bibliographies based on your library's holdings will allow library users to follow up on information policy issues. The bibliographies can be used as part of the Information Rights Day displays and programs. An important part of any bibliography will be a list of federal, state/territory, and local government legislation.
Library programs
There will be people in every community concerned about public access to information, and privacy issues. Among them will be community information groups, citizen advice bureaus, librarians, library-school students, academics, civil libertarians, human rights activists, journalists, lawyers, freedom of information advocates, socially-conscious information technology professionals, sociologists, communications experts, a broad range of community groups, individuals involved in organising free internet access, and many others. Programs involving these individuals will highlight the issues, and profile librarians and your library as leaders in protecting and enhancing public access to information. Just identifying all those people and organisations in your area will be of use in strengthening your library's role in the community.
Staff study sessions
Information Rights Day is a good opportunity to provide staff development on information policy issues. Much of the information provided here can be used for in-house workshops.
Some possible program topics include:
Government information
Who owns it? Who should have access to it? How is the government depository system functioning? Does it meet the needs of the library community? Does it meet the needs of the public? Does it include electronic and alternate formats? How is information disseminated and archived electronically? Is it being sufficiently funded?
Literacy, adult basic education, and English as a second language programs and information policy
Literacy is the basic element for access to any of the higher technologies. Why are these issues dropped whenever information policy issues are raised? How can we spend money on high technology when we have not solved fundamental problems? This is an opportunity to work with literacy groups.
What are our state's information and communication technology plans?
Who is the minister responsible? Most states and territories have plans for telecommunications networks and high-technology industry. What are the plans in your state or territory? How do they mesh with the plans from other states and the Commonwealth? How and on what terms will public institutions, community groups, and members of the public have access to these telecommunication networks? What about rural and remote areas? How will they be served? While everyone is talking about access to the highspeed highway, who will provide the terminals and the training for public use?
What does the information revolution mean to libraries and you?
How are libraries coping with these issues? Most members of the public are not aware of the stresses, strains and demand on libraries caused by the changes in computers and telecommunications. This is your chance to tell them!
What is local government doing to make information available to the public?
Does your local authority and local government association have any relevant legislation or policy? How widely is it known and how heavily is it used? If your local authority does not have such legislation, why not? What types of by laws do other local authorities have?
What is our state government doing to make information available to the public?
Are the directions of your state's information policy clear? Is there a public process? What are the policies of the other states?
What is our federal government doing to make information available to the public?
Ask your local federal members of Parliament.
Telecommunications policy
Education programs and discussions can be arranged with telephone companies and advocacy groups.
What is happening with the telephone system now that it is deregulated?
How is deregulation affecting telephone use by the poor, those in rural and isolated areas, and those community organisations such as libraries, information centres and crisis centres who depend on the telephone for communication and access. Public interest advocacy groups, charities, seniors organisations, and consumer groups are all interested in these issues.
What is an information policy and who are the players developing the policy?
Contact your local telephone companies, internet service providers and media centres to involve them in a panel on their differing visions of the telecommunications future. What other government departments, local companies, and international companies are involved?
What privacy do I have in an age of large computer systems and telecommunications networks?
What should be protected? What privacy protection should the public have to pay for? Civil liberties associations and many legal organisations are interested in these issues, as are the federal and state privacy commissioners. University and college computer/communications/ or sociology departments may have individuals interested in this issue.
What are the new digital copyright rules and how do they affect libraries and the distribution of information?
Librarians and creators sometimes appear to be on opposite sides of the fence on copyright issues. Are there compromises? What is the basis of each position? What are the directions of government policy? What are the implication for the public?
Freedom of information and privacy legislation in your state - what is its impact on you?
How is it being used? How can it be improved? How does it affect police, the professions such as doctors and lawyers, institutions such as hospitals, schools, universities and libraries, and how strong are the privacy provisions? Journalists in particular are knowledgeable about the access part of any legislation and always anxious to stretch the legislation.
Publicity
Press conference
Libraries and community groups in every municipality or regional area should aim to hold a press conference to announce Information Rights Day.
Letters to the editor
Write a letter to the editor about Information Rights Day and current issues regarding information policy. Individual librarians, library boards or groups can put information into the letter that makes a direct connection to individuals in their area.
Meet with the local newspaper editor
Seek a meeting with the local newspaper editors and provide them with information on Information Rights Day and information policy issues. This serves the double function of getting coverage and educating the local press. This can be most successful with local and regional newspapers. Consider doing the same with local radio stations.
Press release
Many local newspapers and radio stations are anxious for content to fill up their pages or airtime. By providing them with already-prepared information, it is often published with very little alteration. Consult your media kit for a sample media release.
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