The American Library Association's Code of Ethics is an expression of this duty to equality of access to information. The first part of the code reads "We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests." The stated professional duty of the librarian is to provide all citizens with access to information upon request. But how do libraries live up to this Code? These institutions achieve this through promoting Advocacy, Equality, and Literacy! 21st century librarians must advocate to ensure that their patrons have both equal access and the proper type of literacy that prepares them to live in a democratic society.
One such advocacy effort is the PA Forward movement started by the Pennsylvania Library Association. The goal of PA Forward is to publicize how libraries are enabling the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with different types of literacy that help them towards success. The argument is that literacy of any kind will not improve without libraries and librarians must get the message out. The idea is that librarians cannot accomplish all of this by themselves and we must educate every day citizens to realize the value of libraries and that literacy is a cornerstone of liberty in this country.
Read on for more details about equality and libraries...