Libraries in the United States of America have long cultivated democratic environments. The foundation of our public library system is built on the assumption that access to information should be free and open to all. Indeed, libraries take a democratic stance toward not only the persons they serve, but also toward the very materials they provide: to offer materials representing all points of view on a given topic, freedom of expression, and freedom of access are all principles of library philosophy. It follows that libraries, microcosms of democracy, are integral to a truly democratic society.
HOW LIBRARIES FOSTER DEMOCRACY IN THE UNITED STATES
Public libraries provide access for all persons to a variety of information and ideas. Citizens, therefore, have enhanced opportunities for self-improvement and empowerment. Perhaps even more significant to the democratic function of libraries is that much of what can be found in public libraries today is related to democratic civic activity such as social and community services referral; information about community organizations; exhibit space and meeting areas for individuals and groups of all kinds; Internet access; adult literacy programs; tax forms and volunteer tax advisers; voter registration forms; and public word processors, printers, and typewriters. The existence of these services, which transcend what are generally thought of as traditional library ministrations, underscore just how crucial the role of libraries is in sustaining a democratic state; all of them allow citizens to fulfill their civic and personal responsibilities and to exercise their liberties.
LIBRARIES IN THE WORLD'S NEW DEMOCRACIES
Libraries are an essential component of the global resurgence of democracy, which has been underway since the 1970s. They have helped citizens to participate more fully and effectively in their democracy, to make informed choices about government, and, by connecting them with appropriate resources, to educate themselves for personal and occupational success and fulfillment, possibilities withheld from them until very recently. And at a time when young democracies must stretch their scarce financial resources to meet just basic needs, a library's cost-benefit ratio is high: the purchase of new library materials allows access for many citizens to a wealth of information at relatively little cost. In these ways, libraries have helped to vitalize new democracies and move them toward authenticity.
Certainly, the transition from a totalitarian state to a genuine
democracy is an enormous struggle in many ways. Overwhelming economic,
social, political, cultural, and even emotional and mental hurdles
challenge the citizens and
governments of emerging democracies. There is never any guarantee that,
somewhere
along the path to realized democracy, a nation will not backslide to a
totalitarian
form of government. There are citizens and members of government in
every
emerging democracy who
would like to see a return to communism. Such deep potential for
instability only intensifies other challenges to a secure democracy.
Especially in Eastern
Europe, decades of communist rule have eroded trust in the accuracy and
value
of information and created a belief that such information is available
only
to elites, as it was during the period of communist rule. For years,
only
officially sanctioned material was available to the general public, and
such
material was, of course, largely
propaganda (Gifford 1995). Libraries existed to limit and control
public access
to information, and to channel readers' intellectual curiosities and
needs
(Kuzmin 1993). Information and libraries were tools of the totalitarian
state,
so neither could be trusted. Moreover, the communist ideology made
self-discipline,
self-motivation, ambition, and similar attributes unnecessary and
undesirable
in the eyes of the state; the practice of such virtues by any
individual
or group would seriously conflict with the function of the regime.
Understandably,
such deeply-ingrained distrust and the individual and societal effects
of
long-term repression do not diminish easily; they present considerable
barriers
in connecting citizens with libraries today.
Linking libraries with democratic citizenship is, of course, not the
only
test facing libraries in emerging democracies. Financial and
technological woes beleaguer them, too. Despite these difficulties,
libraries in new democracies
are managing to revamp and refocus. They are gathering accurate sources
of
history unavailable during the communist era. They are discarding the
mountains
of communist propaganda crowding their buildings (IGLA 1994). They are
luring
back formerly dissatisfied
users in nations where book prices have skyrocketed and the publishing
industry
now shuns production of items such as encyclopedias, literary classics,
and
technical and scientific research materials in favor of mass market
books
(Kuzmin 1993). Ministries and other government agencies now enjoy
in-house
information services that facilitate their functions (IGLA 1994).
Bibliographies
of Eastern European publications issued between 1948 and 1988 are being
compiled;
plans for these bibliographies to be made available electronically are
underway
(Gifford 1995). To curtail duplication and encourage sharing of library
resources,
Central and Eastern European libraries are taking inventory of their
holdings
and exploring ways to exchange that information using the growing
Global Information
Infrastructure (Borgman 1995). In short, libraries are making the most
of
their situation by doing what they can with what they have. Indeed,
such
resourcefulness and determination are basic to any successful
democracy.
HOW LIBRARIES IN THE UNITED STATES CAN HELP INSURE DEMOCRACY AT HOME
AND ABROAD
Efforts by American libraries to aid library systems abroad can benefit everyone. Strong democracies make the world a safer, more peaceful place for us all. American libraries can reinforce their supporting role in our own democracy and expand the capabilities of libraries in new democracies to support and educate their citizenry and to fortify their government through many actions (Schechter 1990):
* Participating in staff exchange programs with libraries in developing democracies.
* Encouraging library and information science organizations to lobby Congress for aid programs for library development in emerging democracies.
* Using evolving telecommunications technologies to share with librarians in other nations experiences and resources that will help develop quality library service.
* Striving to meet local community activity and information needs by providing meeting space for community organizations and by referring citizens to such organizations and services.
* Providing support for formal education, scholarly research, and independent learning.
* Developing interest in reading and learning in preschool children.
* Furnishing reference works on citizenship, current events, constitutional law, government, politics, and public policy issues.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT LIBRARIES AND DEMOCRACY
Public libraries are present in all democratic systems (Hafner and Sterling-Folker 1993), which points to just how inextricably linked libraries and democracy really are. Some groups involved in working to strengthen the role of libraries in democracy are:
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
(IFLA)
P.O.B. 95312 2509 CH The Hague The Hague, Netherlands
Telephone: 31-70-314-0884 Fax: 31-70-383-4827
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone: (800) 545-2433 Fax: (312) 944-3897
American Society for Information Science (ASIS)
8720 Georgia Ave., Suite 501
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone: (301) 495-0900 Fax: (301) 495-0810
The Library Association
7 Ridgmont St.
London, United Kingdom
WC1E 7AE