1. That BCLA work towards the establishment of a Citizen's Charter of Rights for Access to Information.

2. That BCLA work with national, provincial and regional library associations to develop coalitions with other organizations and institutions in their areas, to advance public awareness, to ensure that a concern for the "public good" is paramount in future policy development, and to consolidate efforts towards formulation of an information policy.

3. That BCLA encourage CLA/Asted to work with provincial and regional library associations to develop a national information policy, including:
   • public meetings to ensure public imput;
   • involvement not only of libraries, but also public/community information agencies/institutions as full partners in future discussions;
   • another Summit to be called by December, 1995.

4. That BCLA work to ensure that the federal and provincial governments establish a statutory basis for the government depository programs which should include all formats and online access to government databases.

5. That BCLA encourage the federal government to take initiative in establishing a cross-Canada high-speed telecommunications network and work with the provincial, regional, and municipal governments to ensure that the telecommunications networks are distributed across Canada in a way that ensures that the entire population of the country has access to the electronic "super highway" regardless of location.

6. That BCLA should actively encourage CLA, in cooperation with other provincial and territorial library organizations to take the lead in forming a national working group that will ensure that the public, school, academic, and special libraries are fully participating partners in the planning and operation of any national high-speed telecommunications network.

7. • That BCLA encourage the federal and provincial governments to substantially increase the sustained core funding for literacy.

   • That BCLA encourage literacy programs through cooperation and partnerships among public libraries, educational institutions, community organizations wherever they may be, including on reserves, in remote communities and in other outreach locations.

8. That BCLA encourage all levels of government to recognize and provide ongoing funding for information needs as defined by First Nations Peoples, such as community-based literacy programs and the provision of ongoing funds for the development of culturally relevant literacy materials.

9. That BCLA encourage the federal and provincial governments to recognize the importance of information literacy and provide appropriate funding for its promotion.

10. That BCLA support the development of local FreeNet systems throughout British Columbia and further that:
    • BCLA encourage libraries to support FreeNet development;

    • and that BCLA lobby the provincial government to secure support for the development of local FreeNets;

    • and that BCLA lobby the provincial government to support a telecommunications backbone to link local FreeNets;

    • and that BCLA actively seek the support of other library associations within the province in such lobbying efforts.

Copyright © 1995 BCLA Information Policy Committee

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