Freedom

I have stood at the Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon, walked in the streets and ducked in the face of the military. The poorest people I have seen, in person. I never once saw another white person or any foreigner during my two weeks in Myanmar(Burma). The people are so oppressed and as the world looks on are not even allowed peaceful demonstrations, it almost seems unreal. "We cannot get books", they said to me, "can you please help us make a library, one that is hidden from the government, so that we can read and learn". Unfortunately, I could not help with such a project. Neither could I get them english books or those written in Burmese, plus I must admit, I was afraid.
I think of the freedom I have to write, to read and what is available to me digitally. I think of the power and freedom of libraries. As librarians, we are seekers and finders of information, creators of information spaces, designers of information architecture, and recipients of democracy.
I am glad that people are outraged at the attacks on the peaceful monks, I am glad at the talk of sanctions and I am saddened by the recent events. I don't know if I will ever be able to go to Myanmar and help them start a library, but thanks to the web, google books and digital access to information, they may be able to find a library without having to create it themselves. Of course they will need access but somehow that seems like an attainable goal and maybe that is where we can start to help.