Global Information Inequalities: Bridging the Information Gap

Citation

Duckett, B. (2010), "Global Information Inequalities: Bridging the Information Gap", Library Review, Vol. 59 No. 2, pp. 133-135. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242531011023899

Information inequalities, such as variable access to information and communication technology and issues of social inclusion – are “hot” topics, and closely related. As is clear from the essays in this book, such inequality needs to be treated in its social context: historical, institutional, economic, educational, cultural, and social conditions. In this book 18 authors report progress made in tackling information inequality in various parts of the world and call attention to emerging issues. Among the topics discussed are information literacy, access to information, library services, collection development, global collaboration, intellectual freedom, and digital information. This is much wider in scope that the more usual focus on information technology. “By exploring initiatives in various parts of the globe, the contributors to this book seek to contribute to the global conversation and shed light on how such global inequalities can be understood and addressed” (Introduction).

The 13 essays that constitute this book are organised into four sections: information mobilisation, information empowerment, social inclusion, and information divides. The four essays in the first section, on information mobilisation, address issues of social and economic development. Despite the seemingly ubiquitous nature of information in the twenty‐first century, the authors of the first essay illustrate how inequalities exist between and within communities. The role of information professionals is highlighted, as is the need for partnerships to overcome boundaries and barriers. The authors’ experiences of building a community library in Angola are reported. The three subsequent chapters in this section elaborate measures needed to sustain equitable information access in rural China (and presents a model for library resource sharing using schools); in Sawarak (collaboration between government and non‐governmental agencies and improving levels of literacy); and Tanzania (Community Resource Centres and their usefulness).

In the second section, “Information empowerment: equitable access and civic engagement”, we view “Information reception, flow and use in rural villages on the Amazon river basin of Peru”; efforts by the Chilean Library of Congress to promote citizen participation and to facilitate the exchanges of information between citizens and legislators; and a consortia model in Iceland in which country‐wide access to bibliographic databases was established. In the third section, two essays highlight initiatives for inclusive library services for those with sensory and learning difficulties. In the first, a public and private sector strategy in Canada is described which supports people with vision loss using the opportunities provided by technological advancements. The second chapter looks at the problems encountered by people with sensory difficulties caused by copyright barriers in South Africa and other countries. In the final section, “Information divides: challenges and opportunities for a global information society”, there are chapters on using bookmobiles to bridge the information gap through mobile outreach services; “information divides and ditches” in South America, which considers how the “professionals” underestimate the scale of the problem in combining libraries, indigenous peoples, and strategic information; the development of MedlinePlus Go Live projects in the USA in which online health information can improve the health of at‐risk persons; and an overview of the barriers to free and equal access to information sub‐Saharan Africa.

Overall, there is a considerable similarity in the solutions identified and adopted: the need for IT literacy, better education, partnerships and resource sharing, and the need to be flexible. There are also differences, such as the pressure, particularly in Africa, by governments to restrict the flow of information, national policies on copyright, funding, and varied expectations. Information inequalities, of course, have always been with us. Indeed, they have been a major motive for the very existence of libraries themselves: in many respects the history of libraries has been the history of tackling information inequality. It is important, though, to have current experience well‐documented to help us keep abreast of this seemingly endless struggle. I would have welcomed, though, a touch more excitement, of mission, of brio, the better to counter any world‐weary cynicism. A second thought that nagged me throughout was the question: “What if there was no information inequality? What sort of world would it be if we were all informationally equal?” I was pleased to see the question posed in the introduction: “what does it mean to facilitate equitable information access?”. Interestingly, the case study of Iceland, where there is a goal of every household having free access to bibliographical databases, suggests that such a question may not be so silly. But sadly, another chapter suggested that a nation's inhabitants needed information equality to keep the competitive edge. But this just raises the “game”, racking everything up a notch. To what end? Case studies are all very well, but where is the under‐pinning philosophy, the motive?

The book is well‐produced, though perhaps rather too much prominence is given to sub‐headings, boxes, and other didactic aids, almost as if the publishers were treating the texts as instructional rather than reporting ideas and prompting discussion. I did, though, like the chapter overviews noting “highlights” and “implications”. The chapters are well‐referenced, but the index is weak, with a poor choice of headings and too many undifferentiated number blocks (31 in the case of “Education”).

This book will be of value for anyone concerned to develop greater access to information, particularly in a global context. The rich variety of ideas will stimulate and the examples of good practice will provide useful templates. This book is one of the better “How I do it Right” ones.