Intellectual Freedom and Alternative Priorities in Library & Information Science Research: A Longitudinal Study

Gardner, Gabriel Intellectual Freedom and Alternative Priorities in Library & Information Science Research: A Longitudinal Study. IFLA Journal, 2022. [Journal article (Paginated)]

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English abstract

This article presents a bibliometric analysis of the library and information science literature to trace the emphasis that intellectual freedom and neutrality have received relative to an index of alternative and possibly competing topics. Emphasis is captured longitudinally by recording the number of results for various search terms associated with intellectual freedom, neutrality, diversity, equity, and inclusion in Web of Science (WoS) from 1993 through 2020 and Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA) from 1970 through 2020. Results show that the number of works mentioning intellectual freedom and neutrality have increased only slightly over the study period in sharp contrast to many entries on the diversity, equity, and inclusion index. Research interests being partially indicative of personal beliefs and professional activity, the impact of this relative change in emphasis on professional practice is discussed. Public controversies regarding library neutrality, intellectual freedom, and freedom of expression in libraries are summarized.

Item type: Journal article (Paginated)
Keywords: LIS as a discipline, bibliometrics, intellectual freedom and censorship
Subjects: A. Theoretical and general aspects of libraries and information. > AA. Library and information science as a field.
B. Information use and sociology of information > BB. Bibliometric methods
E. Publishing and legal issues. > EE. Intellectual freedom.
E. Publishing and legal issues. > EF. Censorship.
Depositing user: Gabriel Gardner
Date deposited: 20 Jan 2022 19:42
Last modified: 20 Jan 2022 19:42
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/42571

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