Carta de drets de la biblioteca de l'American Library Association (ALA)

La «Carta de drets de la biblioteca» (Library Bill of Rights) va ser aprovada per l’ALA (American Library Association) el 1939. La filosofia d’aquest text és que les biblioteques són fòrums d’informació i idees, i els seus serveis han de ser guiats per ser polítiques bàsiques.

L’actual versió de gener de 2019 incorpora un article centrat en el concepte de garantir la privacitat i la confidencialitat dels usuaris de la biblioteca. Aquest article és el número VII. Tot seguit, us transcrivim les set polítiques que regeixen aquesta Carta:

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfilment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

VII. All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and protect people’s privacy, safeguarding all library use data, including personally identifiable information.