Researching the impacts of information policy an imperative for the global library community

As a profession, the work of librarians is dictated and mediated in many regards by information policy on both local and international levels. Copyright, Fair Use Exceptions, and Internet Governance are but a few major policy areas that impact greatly the ability of libraries to provide services. Information policies often determine whether a service such as interlibrary loan (ILL) or digitization can take place while also influencing the amount that these services cost the organizations and societies libraries serve in terms of real funds and opportunity costs. Obviously, strong library associations help libraries and librarians better understand policy issues and help to advocate for governance structures and laws that support access to knowledge, an increased public domain, and a literate population of readers. As a profession, how much do we really know about the impact of information policies on libraries, organizations, and readers as new laws and treaties are implemented and changed? Unfortunately, from the perspective of research and publication activity, the answer is not enough.