The debate concerning the independent libraries on Cuba 1998-2001. Three library support organizations view of the Cuban libraries and intellectual freedom.

During the late 1990s a movement with the intention of forming independent libraries emerged on Cuba. They were seen as an alternative to the public libraries which were supposed to be suffering from censorship by the Cuban government. The purpose of this thesis is to compile and bring structure in a debate regarding public libraries on Cuba and what have become known as independent libraries. In this thesis a textual analysis has been approached for examining articles, websites and reports concerning what attitudes and position the library support organizations Friends of Cuban Libraries FCL, Cuban Libraries Solidarity Group CLSG and IFLA/FAIFE have regarding the two different library types. These positions is throughout the survey connected with the concept of intellectual freedom. This thesis shows that the way the three organzations present their views differ a lot in various respects. FCL and CLSG can be seen as having opposite views while IFLA/FAIFE seems to be positioning themselves somewhat in the middle. The problems with such a grand concept as intellectual freedom is discussed and related to theories of freedom of speach and the effects library policies can have on the accessibility.Uppsatsnivå: