ERIC ED510130: Libraries and the Fight against HIV/AIDS, Poverty, and Corruption. IFLA/FAIFE Theme Report, 2006. IFLA/FAIFE World Report Series Volume VI

2006·6.1 MB·English

by  ERIC

“Libraries and the fi ght against HIV/AIDS, pover- I
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ty and corruption” takes up some of the big issues L
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and major challenges facing the world: the HIV/ /F
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AIDS pandemic, poverty and the reduction of it,
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and corruption and its counterpart transparency. E

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The articles explore the role and responsibilities of
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libraries and information services, and how they E
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can contribute to this fi ght. In regard to all three
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themes, authors call our attention to the need to R
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identify new responsibilities and values for the P
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library profession.
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The IFLA/FAIFE Theme Report 2006 tries to an- 0
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swer the question of why libraries and information 6
services should place stronger emphasis on issues Libraries and the Fight
concerning the condition and constraint of the
environment in which they are operating, and by
doing so recognize their social responsibilities and
against HIV/AIDS,
their role as advocates of intellectual freedom and
equal participation in an inclusive information
and knowledge society. This year’s report clearly
demonstrates the need for libraries’ active involve-
Poverty, and Corruption
ment and support in the fi ght against HIV/AIDS,
poverty and corruption.
http://www.ifla.org/faife/report/intro.htm
www.ifla.org/ /index.htm ifla/faife Theme Report
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IFLA/FAIFE Theme Report

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Libraries and the Fight against o
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HIV/AIDS, Poverty, and Corruption l
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Editors: Susanne Seidelin o
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& Thomas Skov Jensen
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IFLA/FAIFE 2006
http://www.ifla.org/faife/report/intro.htm
Libraries and the Fight against HIV/AIDS,
Poverty, and Corruption
IFLA/FAIFE World Report Series Vol. VI: IFLA/FAIFE Theme Report 2006

published by
the ifl a/faife offi ce
birketinget 6
dk - 2300 copenhagen s
denmark
www.ifl a.org/faife/index.htm
2006
edited by
susanne seidelin & thomas skov jensen, ifl a/faife
design
per lukman
printed by
frederiksberg bogtrykkeri, copenhagen, denmark
isbn
87 988 013 7 6
http://www.ifla.org/faife/report/intro.htm
Table of
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Authors
C
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Acknowledgements
o
By Susanne Seidelin and Paul Sturges
n
9 t
Preface e
By Alex Byrne, President of IFLA n
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Introduction
By Susanne Seidelin and Paul Sturges
Regions · Africa
15
Information accessibility by the marginalized communities
in South Africa and the role of libraries.
By Dennis Ocholla
29
Information vaccine: HIV/AIDS and libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa
By Kendra Albright
Regions · Asia
43
India’s public libraries: poised to meet the needs of the poor?
By Anjali Gulati and John Riley
55
Health information services in public libraries in Japan
By Yasuyo Inoue
Regions · Central America and the Caribbean
63
The role of libraries in the dissemination of HIV/AIDS information
in Trinidad and Tobago
By Ernesta E. Greenidge, Marilyn Drayton-Andrews, and Marilyn Lewis
http://www.ifla.org/faife/report/intro.htm
79
The experience of Cuban libraries in preventing STI/HIV/AIDS
By Margarita Pobea Reyes
Regions · Latin America
87
Information access for the poor and the role of libraries
in the reduction of poverty
By Celso M. Musiño
97
Information and transparency in Mexico: A mechanism to control corruption?
By Oscar Maya Corzo
109
Information and HIV/AIDS in Mexico: Towards building an appropriate system
for public documentation?
By Celso M. Musiño & Oscar Maya Corzo
125
Access to books, libraries and information literacy:
Adoption of IFLA/UNESCO Manifestos and Guidelines by public and
school libraries in South America
By Marcia Rosetto
Regions · Eastern Europe
135
Georgian libraries and the fi ght against HIV/AIDS, poverty, and corruption.
By Irakli Garibashvili
145
Conclusion
By Susanne Seidelin and Thomas Skov Jensen
Appendixes
155
Statement on Libraries and Sustainable Development
157
Alexandria Manifesto on Libraries, the Information Society in Action,
159
Beacons of the Information Society. The Alexandria Proclamation on
information literacy and lifelong learning
http://www.ifla.org/faife/report/intro.htm
Preface
5
Authors
A
(cid:127) Kendra Albright, University of Sheffi eld, Department of Information Studies, The University of
u
Sheffi eld, United Kingdom · Email: k.albright@sheffi eld.ac.uk t
h
o
(cid:127) Dr Alex Byrne, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, President of IFLA (2005-2007) r
s
Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Oscar Maya Corzo, Bibliotecólogo Consultor, Dokumenta-Consultoría e Integraciones,México DF
Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Marilyn Drayton-Andrews, Librarian, Medical Sciences Library, the University of the West Indies,
Trinidad and Tobago · Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Irakli Garibashvili, President of the Georgian Library Association, Georgia · Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Ernesta E. Greenidge, Head, Medical Sciences Library, the University of the West Indies, Trinidad and
Tobago · Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Anjali Gulati, Lecturer Department of Library & Information Science, Isabella Thoburn College
(Affi liated to University of Lucknow), LucknowUttar, Pradesh, India
IFLA Asia Oceania Section, India · Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Yasuyo Inoue, Associated Professor, Librarianship Courses, Economics & Business Department,
Dokkyo University Saitama, Japan · Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Marilyn Lewis, Librarian, Medical Sciences Library, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad
and Tobago · Email: [email protected]
http://www.ifla.org/faife/report/intro.htm
Preface
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(cid:127) Celso M. Musiño, Bibliotecólogo Consultor,Dokumenta-Consultoría e Integraciones México DF
Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Professor Dennis N. Ocholla, Department of Library and Information Science, University of Zululand,
South Africa · Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Lic . Margarita Pobea Reyes, J´Departamento Servicios Bibliotecarios,Centro Nacional de Información de
Ciencias Médicas. Biblioteca Médica Nacional de Cuba ·
Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Dr John M. Riley, PhD, MLIS, MPA, University of Chicago Libraries, the United States
Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Professor Marcia Rosetto, President, Brazilian Federation of Library Associations, Information Scientists
and Institutions (FEBAB), Brazil · Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Susanne Seidelin, Director IFLA/FAIFE Offi ce, Copenhagen, Denmark
Email: susanne.seidelin@ifl a.org or [email protected]
(cid:127) Professor Paul Sturges, Department of Information Science Loughborough University, United Kingdom,
Chair of the IFLA/FAIFE Committee and Executive Board
Email: [email protected]
(cid:127) Thomas Skov Jensen, core activity offi cer, IFLA/FAIFE Offi ce, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Email: [email protected]
http://www.ifla.org/faife/report/intro.htm
Preface
7
Acknowledgements
The IFLA/FAIFE Theme Report 2006: “Libraries and and Tobago, Anjali Gulati of India, Yasuyo Inoue of A
the fi ght against HIV/AIDS, Poverty, and Corruption” Japan, Marilyn Lewis of Trinidad and Tobago, Celso c
k
addresses three major subjects: Access to information M. Musiño of Mexico, Dennis Ocholla of South
n
for the poor and the role of libraries in the reduction Africa, Margarita Pobea Reyes of Cuba, John Riley of o
of poverty; the elimination of corruption and the India, Marcia Rosetto of Brazil and IFLA President w
equitable provision of public services; and the distri- Alex Byrne of Australia for the preface. l
e
bution of HIV/AIDS information through libraries d
and other information services. The report has been Our warmest thanks go to Loida Garcia-Febo of g
e
initiated by the IFLA/FAIFE Committee and devel- Puerto Rico and the United States who for the third
m
oped by the IFLA/FAIFE Offi ce in cooperation with time has contributed to the development of a FAIFE
e
colleagues from Africa, Asia, Central America and report offering her excellent translation skills from
n
the Caribbean, Latin America and Eastern Europe Spanish into English, and to Per Lukman of Den-
t
s
who debate the challenges and opportunities in their mark, designer of The IFLA/FAIFE World Report
respective countries and regions. Series, for his never failing commitment and profes-
sional skills - designing the cover this year proved a
We specifi cally wish to express our gratitude and special challenge.
thanks to our writers for their invaluable contribu-
tions to this report: Kendra Albright of the United Last but not least we wish to express our gratitude
States, Oscar Maya Corzo of Mexico, Marilyn Dray- and thanks to the sponsor of this report the Swed-
ton-Andrews of Trinidad and Tobago, Irakli Garib- ish International Development Cooperation Agency
ashvili of Georgia, Ernesta E. Greenidge of Trinidad (Sida).
Susanne Seidelin and Paul Sturges
June 2006
http://www.ifla.org/faife/report/intro.htm
Preface
8
http://www.ifla.org/faife/report/intro.htm
Preface
9
Preface
Poverty, HIV/AIDS, corruption and libraries
Alex Byrne
President of IFLA
“Libraries change lives!” is one of our heartfelt and ices should just provide information without bias and
often proclaimed slogans. And, indeed, we regularly leave it to the public and the political process to handle P
see the lives of our libraries’ clients transformed societal issues. As they state, our skills lie in informa- r
e
through our work. We observe the young child who tion organisation, management and access and that, by
f
begins to read, gradually extending her or his ho- applying those skills as best we can, we satisfy our pro- a
c
rizons with growing confi dence, the student who fessional responsibilities while enabling others to pursue
e
masters the skills of accessing digital and printed their campaigns, well informed because of our work.
information, elderly citizens who fi nd new worlds to
experience in their retirement, and many others who There is some merit in this argument. Our profes-
benefi t from our collections and services. sional skills do lie in information organisation,
management and access and we do have a duty to
But do we engage with the big issues which change apply them without bias, without ‘fear or favour’, so
peoples’ lives or compromise them from the outset? that our clients - whether they be within organisa-
Do our libraries do anything to alleviate the crush- tions or spread across communities - will be enabled
ing burden of poverty from which it is so diffi cult to to pursue their interests and responsibilities. We
extricate oneself? Do we contribute to the campaign would fail in our professional duty if we did not make
to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS? Do we have any role available all relevant information to the extent that
in preventing corruption? our resources allow. We would fail if we provided
access only to the information that the client ‘wanted
I have heard colleagues say that ‘this is not librarian- to hear’ when planning a development which might
ship, it is social work’. They have objected strongly to entail environmental damage, for example. Thus in
any suggestion that libraries should engage with these providing full and unbiased access to information,
enormous societal challenges and the others facing our we take a stand, a stand in favour of truth and justice
world. Their view is that libraries and information serv- and the human right to know.
http://www.ifla.org/faife/report/intro.htm