The importance of equity of access within public libraries, identified as a core value. It is the responsibility of information professionals within the LIS field to advocate for free and "unfettered" access to information for all, regardless of background.

1. By: Ana Maria Ion
LIS 401 Professor Lisa Hussey

2. 
 What is equity of access, and what implications does
this core value have within public libraries?
 How has the Internet and other digital resources
affected, or even hindered, the accessibility of
resources for under-served, or marginalized
communities?
Equity of Access

3. 
 Equity access is defined by Michael Gorman (2000)
as “unfettered access […] to libraries and their
services that is unconstrained and free.”
 Unesco Public Library Manifesto, (1994): “the services
of the public library are provided on the basis of
equality of access for all, regardless of age, race, sex,
religion, nationality, language, or social status.”
 ALA(2014) also identifies equity of access as the
“right to know without fear of censorship and
reprisal.”
What is it?

4. 
 Public libraries in the 21st century continue to be
affected by state budget cuts, preventing information
seekers from accessing the necessary educational
materials and from acquiring effective service from
librarians.
 While most public libraries provide free access to the
Internet and other digital resources, many library
users remain excluded due to the “digital divide,”
thus creating disparities between the “haves” and
“have-nots” (Jaeger, et al. 2012).
Issues with Equity of
Access

5. 
 The economically and intellectually disadvantaged
in poor, rural or inner city areas
 Multilingual and immigrant communities
 Senior citizens not trained in utilizing digital
resources
 The incarcerated.
Who is Affected?

6. 
 LIS professionals equate equity of access with social
justice: “there is no such thing as a free society
without free and equal access to information (ALA
1999).
Values in LIS

7. 
 Barriers to access to information resources may be
geographical, financial, or due to inexperience
working with digital resources.
 Advocates of equity of access must collaborate with
state officials to promote free access and free
instruction of information resources within the
public library.
 Outreach programs such as bookmobiles need to
continue bringing free resources – print as well as
digital – to remote communities.
Removing Barriers to
Information

8. 
 Policy makers and information specialists must
incorporate digital inclusion through access of
equity, by ensuring that access to information is free
and readily available to all, regardless of
socioeconomic or educational background.
 LIS professionals need to demonstrate knowledge of
materials and digital resources and act as guides and
instructors, fostering life-long learners.
Mission of Public Libraries

9. Bertot, J.C., Paul T. Jaeger, Emily E. Wahl, and Kathryn I. Sigler. (2011). “Public libraries and the internet: An
Evolutionary perspective.” The Transforming Public Library Technology Infrastructure, American
Library Association: pp. 7-18.
Cretinon, D., and Carl Egner (1998). “Libraries in the Street in Karen Poor People and Library Services. J
Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc.: pp. 92-108.
Gorman, M. (2000). Equity of access to recorded knowledge and information. In Our enduring values:
Librarianship in the 21st century. Chicago: American Library Association: pp. 131-143.
______. 2008. “Equity of access.” Available:
Http://www.ala.org/advocacy/access/equityofaccess (Accessed April 14, 2014).
Jaeger, P.T., John Carlo Bertot, Kim M. Thompson, Sarah M. Katz and Elizabeth J. DeCoster. (2012). “The
intersection of public policy and public access; Digital divides, digital literacy, digital inclusion,
and public libraries.” Public Library Quarterly, 31:1, pp. 1-20.
Rubin, R.E. (2010). Foundations of library and information science. (3rd ed., pp. 392-411. New York: Neal-Schuman
Publishers, Inc.
Usherwood, B. (2007) Equity and excellence in the public library: Why ignorance is not our heritage. Hampshire:
Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Bibliography