Information outsiders of the 21 st century: Access and implications for information behavior research

Equity of access is an imperative in the global information world of the 21 st Century. For the information outsider however, or those who might be disenfranchised by social constructions, economic, legal, educational, or political circumstances, or geographical location, information poverty is a disheartening reality (Chatman, 1992 ; 1996 ; 2000 ; Burnett, Bessant, & Chatman, 2001 ). The functions of this panel are to explore the information worlds of select marginalized populations and the resulting implications for information behavior, social interaction, and pedagogy. It is intended to begin providing a framework for understanding the interactions between information, information access, information needs and uses, and legal and social contexts. The presentations and ensuing discussion will offer insight into physical and digital information access strategies and implications for Library and Information Science (LIS) education and practice.