Host of CBC’s The Current, Anna Maria Tremonti, was one of two keynotes at ALC 2011, and used the opportunity to speak to attendees on the changing world of newfound access to information and how libraries can be apart of the changing world dynamics of information control and dissemination.
Anna began by warming up the early morning audience, fresh from a breakfast overlooking the mountains, stating, “Our libraries are the keeper of our documents”. In her role as a journalist, Anna explained further that she could not do her job without librarians, who she can send a note for a vague date and subject and the CBC librarian is able to pin down the original source.
Anna outlined that she feels that there is an increasing lack of access to information for journalists. Although there is no one group to blame for this environment, Anna explained that the problem is widespread from corporate leaders to government. For example, a briefing note from a minister, or one created on a subject, does not always convey the whole story. Anna cited that this might be in part due to the rise of formalized media training for those in the role of communicating initiatives to media.
Conversely, information dumps are being released through controversial sources that are state secrets offered up in the public domain by multiple sources through Wikileaks, while governments are in turn “gobbling up” all types of documents.
Anna added that the Wikileaks release of classified government information from around the world was literally too much to sort through at one time, but now the content is gradually being transformed into stories.
This same need to transform content into structure applies to libraries Anna explained. This thrust for information access can create too much information, and “once you have the access how do you navigate it?” This raises unique questions for librarians, in a need to respect intellectual property as well all the different forms of information.
Concluding her speech continuing on the need to build information into narratives and structured usable forms or else this information can become inaccessible, Anna added that as a librarian and as a person, you have to do your part in making sure its fair and true. Always maintaining constant awareness of what is objective versus subjective information, as well as the perspective you view information from so that the public is able to make up it’s own mind.
The technology is just a tool and access means documentation, and Anna ended her keynote reminding all of us attending ALC 2011 that new technologies are just like every technology that comes along, it depends on us and how we use it.
