At the Core
Access to Information
Anyone should have access to information they want, when they want it, for no (or, let's be realistic, minimal) charge. The world of literature, scholarship and information is not just for elites: libraries exist to get everyone -- regardless of geography, socioeconomic status, age or ethnicity -- the stuff they want. Ensuring such equity of access is an important part of our mission to bridge the "information divide." This right to information is always balanced with individuals' right to privacy and confidentiality.
Reference work in a public library was full of variety, challenge, intellectual stimulation, fun, and a feeling that one's work truly made a difference in people's lives. A day in my life included helping a visiting businessperson find information for importing from Germany, and then helping that same patron find information for his son's assignment on the history of hockey.
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Fiona Black, Director, School of Information Management
Dalhousie University
