Moontlike implikasies van Artikel 32 van die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika (Wet 108/1996) vir biblioteke

Abstract

Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to research the implications of section 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996 for libraries and librarians. Research method: The study was mainly a literature study of the most important legislative measures and other material dealing with the right to information, library and information science and fundamental rights. The position in South Africa was compared to the position of libraries in the United States of America. Core findings: The right to information as a fundamental right read with the Open Democracy Bill (867-98), the Legal Deposit Act 54 of 1997 and the National Archives Act 43 of 1996 has implications for libraries and librarians. The right to information entails that state or government information should be made more readily available to the public. In order to exercise one's rights in a democratic dispensation the right to information is indispensable. At this stage the public does not realise the value of official information and, therefore, they do not make use of it. This information is, however, not readily available. Libraries could play an important role in making this information available to the public, as they could act as depositories for official information. These depositories could be based on the United States model of the Federal Depository Library Program. Training should be given to document librarians dealing with official information.