IFLA/FAIFE
Intellectual Freedom Statements
Croatian Library Association /
Hrvatsko knjiznicarsko društvo (HKD)
http://www.hkdrustvo.hr/
Statement on Free Access to Information
Adopted by the Croatian Library Association at its assembly held from
20th to 23rd September 2000 in Lovran.
Croatian Library Association, at its assembly held from 20th to 23rd
September 2000 in Lovran, adopted the following
Statement on Free Access to Information
Croatian Library Association supports, promotes and defends
intellectual freedom as defined in the Article 19 of the United Nations Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, Article 10 of the European Convention for the
Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and Article 38 of the Constitution
of the Republic of Croatia.
Croatian Library Association fully accepts and supports IFLA Statement
on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom (1990) and UNESCO Public Library Manifesto
(1994) and UNESCO School Library Manifesto (1999).
Croatian Library Association believes that the freedom of thought and
freedom of expression guaranteed by the mentioned international documents and the
Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, can only be ensured if every citizen is
guaranteed the right to access to all forms of knowledge, the right to creative thinking
and intellectual activities, as well as the freedom to express his/her opinion in public.
The right to know is a basic human right, which ensures the true equality of all citizens
in the society.
Supporting the right to know, and related to that, enabling the free
transfer of information, is the basic responsibility of library profession to the public.
Therefore, Croatian Library Association invites its members and all
library professionals, that in their work promote free access to information for all
users, and to uphold all principles pointed out in the mentioned documents.
Croatian Library Association invites its members to encourage the use
of various information sources, and that in building collections take into account the
needs of all communities, including the minorities and users with special needs, and to
emphasize the positive role of libraries in the promotion of human rights, tolerance and
democracy in the process of the development of the culture of peace.
Croatian Library Association invites its members to always adhere to
professional, rather than ideological, political, personal or other principles, and to
oppose any attempt of the abuse of the profession for the promotion of political, material
or personal goals.
Croatian Library Association invites its members to:
- ensure high level of professional services to all users, which include free selection
and acquisition, technical processing, information use and delivery, storage and
protection of library materials in accordance with relevant international and national
professional standards,
- follow continuously current developments in the profession and involve in various forms
of continuing professional education,
- respect the privacy and anonymity of the users,
- fulfil their responsibilities both to their employers and to their users. In cases of
conflict, the duty towards the user shall take precedence.
Croatian Library Association will represent and defend the right of its
members to act in accordance with the principles pointed out in the Statement. Croatian
Library Association will examine carefully all suggestions, comments and criticisms
directed to its members and other library professionals, and will pronounce its view of
them on time and in public.
