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National Library News

September 1995, vol. 27, no. 9

The UNESCO Public Library
Manifesto 1994

The UNESCO Public Library Manifesto is a wonderful statement of the ideals we all share for public libraries.

However, my personal experience in the last 18 months leads me to suggest one addition and one issue that needs to be addressed.

The first, to the mission statement, would see public libraries "contributing, through their collections and staff expertise, to the economic well-being of the community." I believe that the economic health of a community is as important to the survival of the public library as the cultural and educational environment. Small business is the fastest growing sector of the economy here on the West Coast, and we know, empirically, that there is a direct connection between our services and small business development.

The second, to the section on funding, responds to the implicit assumption that public library funding must come solely from government to ensure the library's ability to deliver equitable service free of outside influences. Frankly, having faced a million dollar cut in service support, and watching my colleagues in Ontario and elsewhere face much more draconic cuts in service support, I am no longer convinced of the validity of this position. If a corporate logo on a library card makes it possible for me NOT to charge borrowers for cards, or if a corporate giant makes it possible to double our activity in the area of literacy, then I am all for it. Vancouver Public Library has a long history of "corporate partnerships" of private sector support (from the insurance and real estate industries and from the engineering profession) and has never compromised, or even been ASKED to compromise its selection standards or criteria.

     -- Madeleine Aalto
        Director
        Vancouver Public Library
  

The UNESCO statement provides a compelling vision of what a public library should be, and why. I find it well organized, thorough and concise. I could potentially use it for presentations to local service clubs, municipal council or the library board to explain the role of the public library. It could be useful in the formulation of mission statements.

A couple of my concerns about the text, and potentially, the philosophy are:

(para. 3)

"This Manifesto proclaims UNESCO's belief in the public library as a living force for education, culture and information, and as an essential agent for the fostering of peace and spiritual welfare through the minds of men and women."

Change to... "through the minds of adults and children."

(para. 6)

"Specific services and materials must be provided for those users who cannot, for whatever reason, use the regular services and materials, for example linguistic minorities, people in hospital or prison."

"Specific services and materials must be provided...": Change to "Efforts should be made to serve those users with special needs, for example..."

"Must be provided" is very strong language indeed, especially in these days of shrinking resources. Some libraries would provide home service, but not service in hospitals and prisons. Some libraries have accessibility problems that they cannot afford to solve.

(para. 9)

"Collections and services should not be subject to any form of ideological, political or religious censorship, nor commercial pressures."

Add "Freedom to access of information is of the utmost importance. Collections and services should not be subject to..."

(section: "Mission of the Public Library")

"The following key missions which relate to information, literacy, education and culture should be at the core of public library services: (2) supporting both individual and self conducted education as well as formal education at all levels"

You cannot assume that public libraries would support education at all levels. Resources to support educational programs are the province of educational institutions. The role of the public library here is to supplement the educational resources of the degree-granting institutions. Public libraries would not collect research materials at the Ph.D. level (except maybe for Metro Toronto).

(section: "Funding, legislation and networks")

"The public library shall in principle be free of charge."

Lots of my colleagues in Chief Executives of Large Public Libraries in Ontario (CELPLO) and Council of Administrators of Large Urban Public Libraries (CALUPL) would argue this one with you. Municipal councils are increasingly pressuring us to charge more for our services, including a membership charge. This is common practice in Alberta.

(section: "Operation and management")

I like the inclusion of this section very much. This section might suggest that a materials collection policy is also essential. Also see the Alberta Library Act for a good collection of policies.

     -- Karen Harrison
        Chief Librarian
        Thunder Bay Public Library
  

This is a necessary document, and provides a goal for all countries in the world to strive for. In an international framework it is revolutionary, and when achieved, will provide for a better informed world citizenry. In many ways, it represents a model that we have already achieved in Canada, although we now must guard against complacency, and ensure that we do not lose what we have, though inattention, cutbacks in public funding, or because we do not value it enough.

From a Canadian point of view, we need to publicize this document as widely as possible, to our libraries, to our decision-makers and to our users. We need to view ourselves, and be viewed, as part of a world-wide network with common goals and aims.

     -- Margaret Law
        Parkland Regional Library
        Lacombe, Alberta
  

The UNESCO Manifesto will be very useful in helping to defend public libraries, not only in our community, but throughout the province as well. We are all under attack financially and are seen to be much less valuable than ambulance services and a number of other things that are offered at the municipal level. So the weight of the UNESCO imprint and the fact that UNESCO comes out so strongly in support of libraries is extremely valuable.

     -- Frances Schwenger
        Metro Toronto Library Board
  

This strong, positive public declaration is one of the most encouraging statements I have read in this decade. I read it with a sense that in the past few years, the authors have attended the same meetings I have, as public library staff and trustees wrestle with missions, visions, mandates, virtual this and that, funding crises, cabinet secretariats, elected representatives, each other, and anyone else who on occasion jumps into the ring. And when all is said and done, we have come to many of the same conclusions about what we should be doing for people.

I know the local reality of "...the public library as a living force for education, culture and information...." UNESCO and IFLA declare to us that this reality has world wide recognition potential. No identity crisis here! As public library staff and trustees continue to seek out new partnerships to sustain and develop services to people, I see a proud place for this Manifesto in the plan of approach.

     -- Ian A. Wilson
        City Librarian
        Saint John Regional Library
        Saint John, New Brunswick