Why do libraries have an obligation to provide government information in electronic format?
The role of libraries is to provide ideas and information across the spectrum of social and political thought and to make these ideas and this information available to anyone who needs or wants it. In a democracy, libraries have a particular obligation to provide library users with information necessary for participation in self-governance. Because access to government information is rapidly shifting to electronic format only, libraries should plan to continue to provide access to information in this format, as well. • What is the library’s role in the preservation of information in electronic formats? The online electronic medium is ephemeral and information may disappear without efforts to save it. Libraries may need to preserve and archive electronic information critical to their mission. • Does “must support access to information on all subjects” mean a library must provide material on all subjects for all users, even if those users are not part of the library’s community of users
