91´«Ã½

Resolution on World Trade Organization Policies Affecting Libraries

Adopted at 2000 Midwinter Meeting

WHEREAS the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) and the Canadian Library Association (CLA) have taken similar positions regarding new World Trade Organization (WTO) proposals affecting libraries; and

WHEREAS the national delegates to the November 1999 WHO Ministerial Conference in Seattle were unable to proceed due to large-scale protests by a wide coalition of environmental, labor, religious and civil society organizations; and

WHEREAS the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) sent an official representative to observe the WTO meeting; and

WHEREAS the WTO agenda could negatively affect publicly supported libraries as explained in the IFLA and CLA position statements; therefore be it

RESOLVED that SRRT endorses and requests that 91´«Ã½ endorse the IFLA WTO position statement; and be it further

RESOLVED that SRRT requests 91´«Ã½ to work in coalition with other organizations to protect libraries from potential negative effects of the evolving WTO agenda.