Globalisation, Information and Libraries

Résumé

Globalisation and an overview of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) - the meaning of globalisation; general overview of the WTO. -- The GATS - the agreement itself and the implications of the GATS for the library and information profession; review of various aspects of the GATS as it relates to libraries and information in a variety of different countries; the practical implications of the GATS for libraries in the UK (particularly the state-funded provision of libraries). -- TRIPS - the agreement itself; implications of TRIPS for libraries and information (particularly whether TRIPS is essentially about the trading of intellectual property rights). -- The knowledge revolution - the author argues that value is increasingly being created and extracted from services, knowledge, information, intangible assets and intellectual property rights. Furthermore, that these WTO agreements assist with this process. -- Conclusion: the furtherance of global capitalism through the WTO.