AN AFFIRMATION OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION

Adopted: April 25, 1995

The Montana Library Association affirms the right of every Montanan to freely and confidentially access information and ideas, and to be afforded the opportunity to select from a variety of materials relating to the widest possible spectrum of issues and points of view.

• The cornerstone of a viable democracy is an informed citizenry.
• Libraries serve as neutral arenas in which all point of views are made available to all citizens.
• It is no coincidence that all governments which have attempted the suppression of individual rights have restricted access to information in libraries.
• Libraries take no position on issues of controversy; rather they collect and provide access to information and points of view so that citizens can freely determine their own thoughts on critical issues.
• Efforts to censor or restrict access to information are on the rise both nationally and in Montana.
• The Montana Library Association supports free access to information for all citizens. The Association supports the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights.

[American Library Association Library Bill of Rights]