Towards information for all, posted by Blake

An international conference held this week at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina highlighted the role of libraries in meeting the challenges of the formation age, writes Heba Sharobeem :

In a new millennium where the importance of equal treatment, respect and tolerance of the "other" is frequently highlighted, we nevertheless find such slogans shattered in reality and cultural misunderstanding proliferating in the media around the world bringing about feelings of hostility and intolerance. We also see how anti-terrorism legislation and national-security concerns have caused chilling effects on freedom of speech and decreased access to information.