Foreword by Alan S. Inouye; Afterword by Nancy Kranich

The first of its kind, this important new text provides a much-needed introduction to the myriad information policy issues that impact information professionals, information institutions, and the patrons and communities served by those institutions. In this key textbook for LIS students and reference text for practitioners, noted scholars Jaeger and Taylor

• draw from current, authoritative sources to familiarize readers with the history of information policy;
• discuss the broader societal issues shaped by policy, including access to infrastructure, digital literacy and inclusion, accessibility, and security;
• elucidate the specific laws, regulations, and policies that impact information, including net neutrality, filtering, privacy, openness, and much more;
• use case studies from a range of institutions to examine the issues, bolstered by discussion questions that encourage readers to delve more deeply;
• explore the intersections of information policy with human rights, civil rights, and professional ethics; and
• prepare readers to turn their growing understanding of information policy into action, through activism, advocacy, and education.

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.