The Inclusive Society: Proceedings of the 84th Annual Conference of the Scottish Library Association

Citation

Freeman, M. (2000), "The Inclusive Society: Proceedings of the 84th Annual Conference of the Scottish Library Association", New Library World, Vol. 101 No. 7, pp. 333-336. https://doi.org/10.1108/nlw.2000.101.7.333.2

“Inclusion” is the buzzword now in Government circles and the Scots – astute as ever – picked up on this concept as the appropriate theme for their 84th Annual Conference, in Peebles. The President of the SLA (Ian McGowan) wisely observed that “we cannot pretend that a library can promote social inclusion if it is shut” – something to bear in mind during the mad rush towards new and glittering opportunities and neglecting traditional and essential concepts such as lengthy and accessible opening hours.

In a packed conference agenda the well‐presented paper by Ann K. Symons, President‐Elect of the American Library Association, stood out by virtue of its range and clarity. She talked about the astonishing connectivity with the rest of the world that the new electronics frontier brings to her home town of Juneau, in Alaska, and such thought‐provoking items as censorship of and access to the Internet, child protection and information filters. Derek Law gave an incisive and timely paper on the need for cross‐sectoral links; his wry comments on the Internet and its little faults brought a breath of Scottish realism to the blind worship of the electronic revolution.

Another excellent and comprehensive contribution, from Judith Elkin, of the University of Central England, is included, outlining the transformation of the librarian into information brokers/knowledge navigator – whatever, and how the professional education system will have to evolve to meet these new demands: “the future of librarians will be to enable and facilitate”.

Overall, a good, contemporary and insightful collection of papers – if presented in a rather dull, unappetising and unpaginated format.