Foundations of Information Law

Foundations of Information Law

Learning the basic concepts of information law and the many legal concepts that come into play in the field of librarianship can seem like an overwhelming endeavor. Drawing upon the authors’ unique backgrounds in both law and librarianship, this text is designed to empower readers to understand, rather than be intimidated by, the law. It melds essential context, salient examples of best practices, and stimulating discussions to illuminate numerous key legal and social issues directly related to the information professions. Helping readers better understand the role of law in their work, this primer discusses information law as part of a continuum of interrelated issues rather than an assortment of discrete topics; - examines information law in the context of different types of libraries; - delves into the manifold legal issues raised when interacting with patrons and communities, from intellectual freedom topics like censorship and public activities in the library to the legal issues surrounding materials and information access; - elucidates operational and management legal issues, including library security, interacting with law enforcement, advocacy, lobbying, funding, human resources, and liability; - promotes literacy of the law, its structures, and its terminology as a professional skill; - gives readers the tools to find and understand different sources of legal authority and demonstrates how to interpret them when they conflict; and - explores information law as a national and cross-national issue. "An exploration of potential obvious and not-so-obvious legal issues is a highlight of the book. Access to information, intellectual freedom, censorship, and the impact of geographic-specific legislation are discussed. These topics are helpfully considered using examples in the context of a librarian’s actual interactions with patrons ... Perfect for novice librarians or readers seeking an introduction to information law." — Library Journal "The authors present information contextualized in relatable scenarios, which enables the reader to process complex and unfamiliar ideas within the framework of their experience ... The content is strikingly contemporary, including discussions on Artificial Intelligence, Supreme Court rulings from 2023, and very recent laws, 'directly promoting censorship in public and school libraries' (p. 91) ... I fully intend to re-read it soon to reinforce the ideas presented and to catch details that I missed the first time through." — Technicalities "Jaeger et. al. give an honest rundown of necessary knowledge for librarians, across issues and library type. Some legal problems are perennial between library types, like book bans and other censorship efforts. Other issues may occur more for libraries open to the public. One of the book’s greatest strengths, then, is that it can be both an excellent primer and a reference book to use as needed, if these situations occur ... This book can be digested in just a few sittings, with the authors using an entertaining style that breaks legal jargon into compelling pieces while also consistently reminding readers of its relevance. Library professionals can read the book linearly to gain an overall understanding of their rights or in a more piecemeal fashion, referencing the needed topic in the moment. The prudent director, or even middle manager, would do well to read and re-read the book to gain some basic knowledge on issues commonly occurring in the field." — DttP: Documents to the People Paul T. Jaeger,  PhD, JD, MEd, MLS, is a professor and Distinguished Scholar-Teacher in the College of Information Studies, director of the Museum Scholarship and Material Culture certificate program, and associate director of the Maryland Initiative for Digital Accessibility at the University of Maryland. He studies the impacts of law and policy on information access and behavior as issues of human rights and civil rights. He is the author of more than two hundred journal articles and book chapters; Foundations of Information Law is his twentieth book. His research has been funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the American Library Association, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Science Foundation, among others. He is an editor of  Library Quarterly  and an executive editor of  Including Disability . He is cofounder and cochair of the Including Disability Global Summit. He has also previously served as an editor for  Advances in Librarianship ,  Government Information Quarterly , the  International Journal of Information, Diversity, and Inclusion , and the Information Policy Book Series from MIT Press, but not at the same time. In 2014 he received the Library Journal/ALISE Excellence in Teaching Award. A 2019 study published in  Public Library Quarterly  named him one of the two most influential scholars of public library research in the past thirty-five years (i