Education and Information Literacy: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights

Everyone has the right to seek and receive information from all viewpoints. Being able to do so freely, without barriers, is called intellectual freedom. Education and information literacy¹ are the foundation of intellectual freedom. They are a core part of every library’s mission. Libraries support this mission by providing access to information and ideas through their facilities, resources, and services.

Libraries teach people how to use resources through educational programs. In 1948, the United Nations showed the importance of intellectual freedom and education in the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” These principles align with the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights.

Both documents stress the importance of intellectual freedom. Article 26 of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” highlights the essential role of education in developing intellectual freedom:

1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial, or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.²

The Library Bill of Rights “affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas.” Libraries foster education, spark curiosity, support learning, and expand the principles of intellectual freedom.

Article I and II of the Library Bill of Rights stress the need for access to information from many viewpoints. Libraries should provide a variety of resources that allow users to evaluate content and context:

Article I: Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

Article II: Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

Library workers promote lifelong learning by encouraging free expression and supporting the exchange of ideas among users.³ Libraries use resources, programming, and services to strengthen access to information. This usage builds the foundation of intellectual freedom. As educators, library workers nurture intellectual freedom by:

• developing collections and services that represent many viewpoints and empower people to explore broadly;
• providing programming in many formats to support different types of learning;
• leading instruction in information literacy and critical thinking;
• building skills needed to identify false or misleading information; and
• advocating for diverse voices and using the library to explore contested concepts.

Libraries provide education services that help people to:

• explore ideas and discover new perspectives;
• find, access, and evaluate information;
• understand information presented in different formats;
• develop thoughtful and informed conclusions; and
• express their own new ideas.

By offering these services, libraries make information accessible and highlight how important it is for people to be able to think and learn freely. They also show how crucial libraries are in helping people in their communities learn and grow.

1. “To be information literate, a person must be able to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” ALA Presidential Committee on Information Literacy, “Evaluating Information: Information Literacy,” January 10, 1989. https://libguides.ala.org/InformationEvaluation/Infolit

2. United Nations General Assembly, “Article 26,” in “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” United Nations, December 10, 1948.

3. “Freedom of expression is an inalienable human right and the foundation for self-government. Freedom of expression encompasses the freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, and association, and the corollary right to receive information without interference and without compromising personal privacy.” “The Universal Right to Free Expression: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights,” adopted January 16, 1991, by the ALA Council; amended July 1, 2014.

Adopted July 15, 2009, by the ALA Council under previous name "Importance of Education to Intellectual Freedom"; amended July 1, 2014 under previous name "Advocating for Intellectual Freedom"; June 25, 2019; and May 29, 2025.