...Christine Stilwell Purpose The purpose of this paper is to endorse the notion that information is the currency of democracy and explore the question of the public library’s role in promoting democracy through the provision of access to information. Design/methodology/approach A review...

... in the context of the notion that “information is the currency of democracy”. Originality/value This is the first English-language article on information as the currency of democracy in a Japanese context. Article 244 of the Local Autonomy Act states about public facilities, and that is: Each ordinary...

...Alex Byrne Purpose Libraries are frequently claimed to be essential to the functioning of a democratic society and to be symbols of intellectual freedom. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between libraries, public libraries in particular, and democracy. Design/methodology...

...Genevieve Hart; Mary Nassimbeni Purpose The purpose of this paper is to trace and analyse the relationship between information and democracy in the old and in the new South Africa. The authors interrogate the applicability to the situation of the famous quotation attributed to Thomas Jefferson...

...Janneke Mostert Traces the relationship between democracy and access to information among parliamentarians. Investigates the South African parliamentary situation concerning information‐seeking patterns among parliamentarians, as well as their ability to trace information sources. The paper...

... and strengthening of democracy. By fulfilling all of these responsibilities, they not only “help to safeguard democratic values and universal civil rights”, they also are expected to offer “essential support for independent decision‐making, cultural development, research and lifelong learning by both individuals...

...Maurice B. Line Democracy, recognised as a flawed but desirable system of government, relies ultimately on trusting the people, whose views are therefore of prime importance. Their views therefore need to be well informed if democracy is to work successfully. The main formers of opinion, television...

...Penny Carnaby; Sudha Rao Proposes to provide some New Zealand public sector examples that reflect the ideas contained in the quotation “information is a currency of democracy”. The discussion in the first part of the paper concludes that in modern democracies such as New Zealand, information...

... and their promise of universal access to information “regardless of frontiers” have reinforced the democracy paradigm. In fulfilling a function of sustaining the discourse of concerned intellectuals, libraries demonstrate their importance to humanity. © MCB UP Limited 2003 Democracy Libraries...