Source:
IFLA Internet Manifesto: http://www.ifla.org/III/misc/internetmanif.htm
Abstract:
The IFLA Internet Manifesto establishes the principles of freedom of access to information via the Internet. It also aims to highlight the “unhindered” access to information in order to help individuals and communities to attain freedom, equality, global understanding and peace. This manifesto was made coherent to the Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and idea through any media and regardless of frontiers”.
Things I learned:
1. As mentioned in the Manifesto, some of the information found in the Internet are incorrect, misleading and may be offensive. This statement has just made me realize how important the role of Librarians in this current age of information. One of our “many” jobs is to help in filtering and evaluating information.
2. Policies on access should accompany the implementation of this Manifesto.
3. Equality on the access to information should always be the main priority.
Reflections:
As part of the LIS 260 class, I think that reading through the IFLA Internet Manifesto brings back the issues, concerns, and past R.A topics that was discussed in our class. Nobody can disagree that access to information available in the Internet should be free, equal and unlimited. But as we look back on those issues discussed such as digital divide, the availability of open access, violations on the Intellectual Property code, presence of software piracy, etc it tells us that although access to information “should” be free and equal, in reality sometimes it is not. In my opinion, the IFLA Internet Manifesto serves as a reminder to us users of the Internet that it is our right and privilege to have an equal access to the available information in the Internet. However certain restrictions such as fee-based access, following the copyright law, the unethical use of pirated software, the economic gap problem, etc should be considered. We must remember that access to information in the Internet is free, the type and extent of access is always the problem.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
open open Sesame or opening Pandora's Box?
Source:
Ojala, Marydee. "open open Sesame or opening Pandora's Box?." EContent 28.6 (June 2005): 30-35. Education Research Complete. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 6 Aug. 2009 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=17216644&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Abstract:
This article focuses on the various issues related to Open Access. Particularly, it discusses the various misconceptions and misunderstandings that surrounds the OA term. Users frequently assume that OA is similar to the concept of the Open Web, Open Source and Open Archive. However these terms are certainly different from the concept of Open Access. Another issue discussed in this article is whether Open Access points out either concepts of “Open Sesame” or Opening up Pandora’s Box. According to the article, it is “Open Sesame” since OA provides free scholarly articles to the research community and ordinary individuals, plus the idea of sharing is emphasized. However, the Open Access Initiative also brings out several economic and legal issues that may greatly affect the society. So in this case, it is like Opening up “Pandora’s box” and all unforeseen troubles will come out. Finally, since Open Access articles are sometimes difficult to search, this article suggested different searching tools such as Scirus, DOAJ, OAIster, Google Scholar, etc that will aid the individual in searching for free scholarly and peer-reviewed articles in the Internet.
Three things that I learned from this article:
1. Sometimes I also associate the Open Access term to Open Source and other related terms. This article served as a clearer of ambiguities and confusions about the definition and concept of OA.
2. Learned other searching tools that I can use to search and retrieve free full-text articles in the Internet.
3. The Open Access Initiative does not point out either “Open Sesame” or “Opening-up Pandora’s Box concepts. It actually points out both.
Reflections:
We all know that the concepts mentioned above both exist for Open Access. Certainly with the presence of Open Access Journals, the publishing industry would be affected since there would be fewer subscriptions to journals databases. As a librarians’ point of view however, I think that the economic and legal problems that might come out through the advent of Open Access should only be secondary. We must always remember the numerous advantages and benefits that OA is providing to the community. The issue on Digital Divide should always be considered. Like here in the Philippines, not all Libraries and Learning and Resource Centers have the capacity to subscribe to the high cost of journal databases offered by prominent publishers of scholarly content. Therefore, the access to various Open Access journals and databases should not be at all questioned.
Ojala, Marydee. "open open Sesame or opening Pandora's Box?." EContent 28.6 (June 2005): 30-35. Education Research Complete. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 6 Aug. 2009 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=17216644&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Abstract:
This article focuses on the various issues related to Open Access. Particularly, it discusses the various misconceptions and misunderstandings that surrounds the OA term. Users frequently assume that OA is similar to the concept of the Open Web, Open Source and Open Archive. However these terms are certainly different from the concept of Open Access. Another issue discussed in this article is whether Open Access points out either concepts of “Open Sesame” or Opening up Pandora’s Box. According to the article, it is “Open Sesame” since OA provides free scholarly articles to the research community and ordinary individuals, plus the idea of sharing is emphasized. However, the Open Access Initiative also brings out several economic and legal issues that may greatly affect the society. So in this case, it is like Opening up “Pandora’s box” and all unforeseen troubles will come out. Finally, since Open Access articles are sometimes difficult to search, this article suggested different searching tools such as Scirus, DOAJ, OAIster, Google Scholar, etc that will aid the individual in searching for free scholarly and peer-reviewed articles in the Internet.
Three things that I learned from this article:
1. Sometimes I also associate the Open Access term to Open Source and other related terms. This article served as a clearer of ambiguities and confusions about the definition and concept of OA.
2. Learned other searching tools that I can use to search and retrieve free full-text articles in the Internet.
3. The Open Access Initiative does not point out either “Open Sesame” or “Opening-up Pandora’s Box concepts. It actually points out both.
Reflections:
We all know that the concepts mentioned above both exist for Open Access. Certainly with the presence of Open Access Journals, the publishing industry would be affected since there would be fewer subscriptions to journals databases. As a librarians’ point of view however, I think that the economic and legal problems that might come out through the advent of Open Access should only be secondary. We must always remember the numerous advantages and benefits that OA is providing to the community. The issue on Digital Divide should always be considered. Like here in the Philippines, not all Libraries and Learning and Resource Centers have the capacity to subscribe to the high cost of journal databases offered by prominent publishers of scholarly content. Therefore, the access to various Open Access journals and databases should not be at all questioned.
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