Libraries and Access to Information In Palestine Impacts of Military Occupation

Abstract

Life under Occupation, for over 70 years, has had a major impact on Palestinian libraries, their function within communities, and access to materials and resources that most libraries in other places around the world do not experience. This paper will give a brief overview of several libraries within Palestine, including a historical narrative about the history of the Israel/Palestine conflict. Also included are snapshots of a few libraries within Palestine, the experiences of a few librarians living and working in the West Bank and Gaza, and a summary overview of the documentary film The Great Book Robbery by Billy Brunner. This paper has previously been published as a chapter within an Open Access resource titled International Libraries: An Open Textbook.