People in Department

Prof Paul Sturges
Emeritus Professor of Library Studies

Interests and experience

Chair of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA)’s Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) core activity (2003-2009).

2000-2002 was Project Leader for a project funded by Resource (now MLA) on Privacy in the Digital Library Environment.

1997-2001 developed Guidelines for Public Internet access facilities on behalf of the Council of Europe.

Has also worked on African library and information-related issues since 1984. Book available on-line, The Quiet Struggle: information and librarioes for the people of Africa, 1998.

Current research

Exploring and discussing aspects of intellectual freedom, through a series of conference papers and journal articles on topics including the rationale for intellectual freedom, tolerance and freedom of expression, the role of transparency in combating corruption and comedy as freedom of expression.

External activities

Fellow of CILIP (FCLIP)

Professor Extraordinary, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Frequent speaker at international conferences and participant in seminars and workshops.

During 2009 spoke at conferences and workshops, and carried out consultancy in nearly 20 different countries, including Croatia, Austria, Russia, Norway, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Italy and Vietnam. Various presentations in Britain during the year were on topics including, Comedy, Information Literacy, Children's Information Rights, and Information History.

Selected publications

• Sturges, R.P., and Sharma, G. 'Using ICT to help the poor access public services'. With G.Sharma. Information Development 23(1), 2007, pp 15-24.
• Sturges,P., ‘Limits to freedom of expression? Considerations arising from the Danish cartoons affair.' IFLA Journal 32(3), 2006, pp 181-188.
• Sturges, P. and Cooke, L., ‘Finding the grey in the blue: transparency and disclosure in policing’, The Grey Journal 4(1), 2008, pp 21-28.
• Sturges, P., 'Stimulating IFLA's ethical conscience: FAIFE 2003-9.' IFLA Journal 35(2), pp. 117-122.

Publications: [Details]

Contact details

Email: r.p.sturges@lboro.ac.uk