Whereas the New Mexico Library Association recognizes
the contribution librarianship can make in giving support for efforts
to inform and educate the people of New Mexico on critical problems
facing society; and
Whereas the mission of NMLA is to enrich the lives
and the lifelong learning of all New Mexicans by actively promoting
the cooperation and development of libraries and their personnel;
Whereas NMLA has as one of its goals that government
information be widely and easily available; and
Whereas inaccurate information, distortions of
truth, excessive limitations on access to information, and the removal
or destruction of information from the public domain are anathema to
the ethos of librarianship and to the functioning of a healthy democracy
and constitute a critical problem for society; and
Whereas evidence exists revealing that some U.S.
government officials and agencies use disinformation in pursuit of political,
economic, and military advantage, thwarting the development of an informed
citizenry; and
Whereas the list of documented instances of U.S.
government use of disinformation continues to grow, and includes: the
distribution to media outlets of government produced video news releases
under the guise of independent journalism; the use of commentators paid
by government agencies to express views favorable to government policies
in clear violation of Federal Communications Commission regulations;
the censorship of scientific studies warning of the true threat of global
warming; the fabrication and deliberate distortion of information used
to justify the U.S. invasion of Iraq; the removal of public information
from U.S. depository libraries; and heightened assaults on constitutional
rights under the guise of national security; therefore be it
Resolved that the New Mexico Library Association
go on record as being opposed to the use by government of disinformation,
media manipulation, the destruction and excision of public information,
and other such tactics.
Resolved that the NMLA encourages its members to
teach and nurture 21st century information literacy skills among the
American public to help them detect disinformation, media manipulation,
and missing information.
Resolved that NMLA encourages libraries to actively
seek and acquire information resources that provide a broad context
for public understanding and evaluation of news and opinion.
Resolved that this resolution be shared broadly
with members of NMLA, the press, the public and government officials.
