[10591] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Public libraries should provide Internet access to poor.
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (caroline nachman)
Mon Sep 9 20:43:34 1996
Date: Mon, 09 Sep 1996 19:03:45 -0500 (CDT)
From: caroline nachman <caroline@sqn.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hi
Many Internet users recognize the dire need of poor and non-PC-educated
people for internet access and training. Approximately 100 million people
in the US lack the equipment, access and/or education to effectively use the
Internet. Rather than accept a divsion of America into Internet haves and
have-nots, we believe that public libraries can, working with private
financing sources, provide such access and training.
For reasons of finance, space, bureacracy and politics, public
schools can't effectively provide this access. But public libraries can.
We aren't saying it will be easy. At the smallest public library, there
should be a minimum of 5 - 8 Internet-connected PCs. At the main public
library in metro areas, 50 such PCs may be too few. The project presents
severe difficulties of management, financing and diplomacy.
The effort must be privately funded and planned, using space and people
resources of librares to provide the service. This will make the effort
somewhat independent of the political forces that intrude on every public
library.
We are primarily skilled in the financial [money-providing] and Internet
areas, and are eager to secure associates skilled in library management.
Comments and volunteers, please!
caroline <caroline@sqn.com>
The PL/I-ACCESS Project.
