Does “provision of information services” include printouts?
Whenever possible, all services should be without fees. In any case, fees should not create a barrier to access. Applied to the digital environment, this means that some libraries will provide the text on the screen at no charge, but might charge for printouts. 14. If my library has no “major support from public funds,” can we then charge fees? Yes, but ALA advocates achieving equitable access and avoiding and eliminating barriers to information and ideas whenever possible. 15. Do libraries need a use policy for digital information access? If so, what elements should be considered for inclusion? Access questions are rooted in Constitutional mandates and a Library Bill of Rights that reach across all media. Library policies related to access to digital information should be informed by a library’s mission and institutional objectives and consistent with ALA’s policies and guidelines, including “Economic Barriers to Information Access: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights,” “G
