The internet and Academic freedom: implications for the University library

Abstract

The principle of academic freedom is central to the true functioning of the uni­versity, It asserts the right of scholars and teachers to communicate their ideas and research results, free of interference on political or other grounds unconnected with the quality of what they might say. This includes the freedom to choose and pursue iines of investigation on academic grounds alone. The principle therefore implies the need for information services and resources for the academic commu­nity to be free of intervention on non-aca­demic grounds. Academic librarians have recognized this need and have defen­ded their role as providers of open and uncensored document collections and access to other resources. The internet, as a means of obtaining a great range and quantity of information worldwide, is poten­tially crucial to the practice of academic freedom. However» for libraries as provi­ders of access to the Internet and libra­rians as intermediaries searching the World Wide Web (WWW) on behalf of their users there are issues to be addressed. The Internet is a largely unregulated commu­nication and information medium. It gi­ves access to material including some which is allegedly harmful (pornography, hate speech, etc.), is unendorsed as to quality and accuracy, is of doubtful pro­venance and ownership, or may indeed have been created in a spirit of mischief. It also permits communication that may or may not be secure, could be used for harmful purposes and might contain mi­sinformation. There is pressure for con­trol of the Internet from commerce, inte­rest groups of various kinds, and go­vernments. The academic library is a key forum for the negotiation and resolution of these difficulties and contradictions. It is important that this is done with both a strong vision of the value of the internet and an appropriate respect for academic freedom.