Information policy generally refers to the rules, regulations, laws,
andprocedures that govern the way information is used in society. On the modern
information scene libraries have been entrusted with a new and important task,
namely to be the reliable sources for full text documents referredto in modern
information systems. The reasons for formulating a nationalinformation policy are to
encourage the view that information is a valuablenational resource and also to provide
for the creation, processing, storage anddissemination of information so as to ensure
its optimum availability amonggovernment agencies and the residents of the country.
Most Western European countries have well-developed and comprehensive
information infrastructures which have grown up over many years, butin the strict
sense they have no coherent body of policy relating to information collection, storage,
provision and supply. However, Information Policies at least seem to pay attention to
library development in the WesternEuropean countries, there ever was or is such a
thing as a central national information policy or at least a set of policies and plans in
the various WesternEuropean countries. This paper reviews the approaches to
information policy making in four Western European countries-United Kingdom,
France,Federal Republic of Germany, and Denmark. And also examines the trendto
liberalization in telecommunications, problems and practices relating totransborder
data flows and data protection.