This book provides an overview of the World Trade Organisation; in particular, it focuses on two of the agreements being developed at the WTO, which are due to be strengthened in 2005, and are likely to have significant implications for libraries and information: the General Agreement on Trade in Services (the GATS) and the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The book argues that the library and information profession needs to be more aware of these agreements and the way in which they threaten some of the professional ethics and principles (such as the balance in copyright).

Author Biography

Ruth Rikowski is a well-known author and academic; she has 25 years experience as an information professional. Ruth is currently a Visiting Lecturer at London South Bank University and the University of Greenwich and she is also the Commissioning Editor for the Chandos Series for Information Professionals.