Melisa Martinez LIS 701.02 Journal Summary #2 October 31st, 2012 Chris Clarke, et al.

"How Far Can We Go In Ensuring Equality Of Access To Public Library Services? The Re-Visitation of A Core Professional Value In The Context Of Regional And Urban-Rural Inequalities In China." Libri: International Journal Of Libraries & Information Services 61.1 (2011): 23-36. Print. The article How Far Can We Go in Ensuring Equality of Access to Public library Services? discusses equal access to library resources and services in the context of public libraries in China, particularly analyzing the urban and rural divide concerning the distribution of library services and resources. In the article, the authors argue that librarians need to think closely about what the truly mean by equitable access to information in a socially and economically unequal society. In addition, the authors suggest that current attempts to include equitable access to library resources and services into library manifestos and ethos are not enough to guarantee a successful implementation of equal access. Rather, more must be down to ensure the equitable access to information in a divided social and economic climate (pg. 23). Overall, the authors make an interesting evaluation and conclusions about how external factors such as economic and political elements impact library services and resources, as well as internal factors such as the professional librarians. One important point that the authors make at the end of the article is that disparities among library services and resources seen in China are not limited to this country solely, but is also to different international regions such as the U.S. The authors of the article are Chris Clarke, Liangzhi Yu, Chuanzheng Yu, and Lu fu; all four authors are from Nankai University in Tianjin, P.R. China. Two authors of the piece, Chris Clarke and Chuanzheng Yu are doctoral students in the Department of Information Resource Management, and one student, Lu Fu, is a post graduate student in the same department. The fourth author, Liangzhi Yu is a professor of Library and Information Science within the Department of Information Resource Management. Interestingly, the Department of Information Resource Management is housed within The Business School of Nankai University. Main points The issues and inequalities with the rural divide are mainly concentrated in the Western and Central regions of China that are less well off economically than their Eastern and Northeastern counterparts. Both Eastern and Northeastern regions have more funding, physical space and an extensive library collection. In some cases, Western areas do have larger library holdings per capita and fund per capita, but the authors do point out that there populations are smaller. Because of these restraints, library services and resources are scare. This is primarily because library funding is contributed by the local

Melisa Martinez

government and they often have inadequate economic means to provide. In addition, China did not have a national library until it was brought up in a development imitative titled the 11th 5 year plan. The authors note that the factor that changed programming for libraries was the shift of responsibility from national government to local government in 1978. Another factor that impacts library services for rural residents are the short term political agenda and corresponding programme funds that create instable funds for libraries. The authors note that this is why there are no stable official statistics of rural public library services (pg. 25-30). To this point, there has been three political initiatives established to develop the rural; a shift from economic development to social economic development. Three examples of such initiatives include National Cultural Information Resources Sharing Project, Rural Household Reading Rooms, and Township Cultural Stations. The projects are focused on establishing a technological infrastructure and information literacy. However, the authors do note that the projects have experienced challenges because inequalities tend to reproduce themselves and local governments in less developed areas give less priority to library resources and services. (pg. 31-2). A third point that the article makes concerns a return to professional values to public libraries. In this respect, the focus is on equal access and libraries have primarily shifted their emphasis to equal access on a national scale in order to address the inequalities at large. This emphasis has been noted in areas of staff training, an establishment of the library services manifesto, and an initiative by large libraries to establish a relationship with smaller libraries in order to help with collections and other similar areas. However, the authors do assert that the initiatives only speak to half the issues, mentioning that economic inequalities often triumph. Mainly, you can train staff with the hope that they will promote equal access on a personal level and the manifesto can only promise and ensure so much without external economic factors implicating equitable access (pg. 334). Conclusions - A direct correlation between wealth, library funding, and resources in different regions. Inequalities are therefore difficult to solve given that there larger among libraries (pg. 345). - A number of people will still be without library services. - The librarian professions commitment to equal access in China is symbolic than substantial. - Recognizes that the relationship between inequalities and library funding is seen in other international regions, not just China.

Melisa Martinez