افاق فكرية
Volume 14, Numéro 1, Pages 628-639
2026-05-19
The Legal Framework For Fourth-generation Libraries: Balancing Personal Data Protection With Ensuring Open Access To Information
Authors : Amairia Aicha .
Abstract
This study aims to analyse the legal framework governing the operation of fourth-generation libraries, which represent a qualitative leap in the field of libraries and information by relying on Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, big data and analytics. The study focuses on the core issue created by this advanced digital environment: the tension between strict adherence to personal data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the established principles of open access to information that form the philosophy of library institutions in the digital age. Employing a descriptive analytical approach, the study extrapolates relevant legal texts and analyses applied policies, utilising a case study methodology to analyse smart library models. It concludes that a significant ‘privacy paradox’ exists, whereby library data collection practices mirror commercial ones, raising complex ethical and legal issues. It also reveals a lack of awareness among librarians and a gap in their training to handle these challenges. The study emphasises the necessity of adopting a ‘Compliance and Privacy by Design’ methodology as a proactive framework to achieve the desired balance. It also presents a comprehensive vision for policies and procedures that can integrate data protection into the core services of smart libraries without undermining the principle of open access.
Keywords
Fourth generation libraries ; personal data protection ; General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ; open access to information ; information ethics
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