Information is a public good, and universal access to and the ability to interact with information is essential for individuals, communities, and nations to thrive. Free access to and use of information is vital to engaging in education, commerce, government, civic society, and much else. Public policy can have an enormous influence how different communities, institutions, and populations are able (or not) to access information necessary for their daily activities and societal interactions. The Information Policy & Access Center (iPAC) provides research products and educational opportunities to better understand the intersection between decisions and actions by governments and the subsequent impacts on access to and use of information at the national, regional, community, institutional, and individual levels. To facilitate this mission, iPAC produces original research, publishes journals and books, and holds conferences to enable discussion and deliberation about creating laws and policies that shape and reshape access to information.
