[1797] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
The Public Library and NEWS
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jean Polly)
Fri Dec 27 11:25:59 1991
To: bill@tuatara.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon), com-priv@psi.com (COM-priv)
From: polly@lpl.org (Jean Polly)
Return-Receipt-To: polly@lpl.org
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 1991 11:28:39 EST
Reply to: The Public Library and NEWS
>So why doesn't the Public Library have NEWS, that greatest of all
>electronic newspapers??
Funny you should mention, Bill. In fact, PSI is about to start our newsfeed.
We are bound only by the lack of available hard disk storage onsite, which
determines how much we can get and how long we can store it.
Ours is still (I think) the smallest public library with host capabilities
on the INTERNET, courtesy of a grant from our regional, NYSERNet. We have a
dial-up host SLIP connection directly to the fast backbone. We do not have
to sign on to another mainframe host-- we are a host! But only when we are
connected: we have a dynamic ip. We do mail, telnet, ftp, the usual stuff.
I do a fair amount of travelling around the country, speaking at library
conferences and evangelizing use of the net. Librarians are interested but
whine about budget constraints. Our budget didn't pass this year either. But
even when our grant runs out I will take $2200 from my software budget and
buy a year of INTERNET connectivity with it. Money is always found for the
necessary items. For us, this connection is necessary.
Many on this list may have some interest in helping us go to the next level.
We would like to create the Perfect Pilot Public Library Model, sort of like
the Cleveland Freenet idea, but based on Mac OS. We have taken this route
because we think it is easier and more cost-effective for libraries to
consider and replicate. We anticipate using a software package currently in
development by *another party*.
We hope to create an information soda fountain (we're the "jerks"!) that's
FAST on the library side and probably slower on the user side.
We anticipate users calling into our standard connection host from their
homes, and telnetting out.
We anticipate users walking into our public computer lab (Ten Years old this
October!) and using guest accounts to read news, etc.
We are well aware of the issues surrounding confidentiality, privacy,
censorship, access, and description of resources-- after all, we've been
finding solutions to them for years!
What can you do? Helping us fund the dream would be a start. But on a local
level, encourage your public librarians to contact me, we've been doing a
lot in the past year.
Jean Armour Polly "Don't postpone joy!"
Assistant Director,Public Services
Liverpool Public Library INTERNET: polly@LPL.ORG
310 Tulip St. AppleLINK: UG0314
Liverpool, NY 13088 WELL: polly
USA OTHER: polly@well.sf.ca.us
VOICE: (315) 457-0310 FAX: (315) 453-7867
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