[10614] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Public Libraries, Internet, and the Poor
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Thu Sep 12 20:34:47 1996
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 11:29:44 -0500 (CDT)
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
2 Messages, 103 Lines
*-----
From: Andre Gionet <agionet@freenet.calgary.ab.ca>
Subject: Re: Public libraries should provide Internet access to poor.
I don't know if many people are aware of it, but the Calgary Freenet
Association and the Calgary Public Library are providing Internet access
at the W.R. Castell Library. This project is done in association with
other sponsors.
There are 6 "dumb" terminals, allowing Web navigation with Lynx and email
with Pine. Internet connection to the public is offered according to the
following rates:
Free --> public-access terminals (PAT) or Telnet access only
20$/year --> remote dial-in, PAT or Telnet, with limits on numbers of
logins
50$/year --> remote dial-in, PAT or Telnet, with no limits on logins
95$/year --> PPP connection, plus the same as above
These are fairly modests charges. And the less endowed can still have
Internet access, provided they are willing to stand in line for the public
access terminals at the library.
Hope this can give some ideas to people out there.
Best regards.
Andre Gionet
agionet@freenet.calgary.ab.ca
*-----
From: "Walt Crawford" <BR.WCC@RLG.ORG>
Subject: Public libraries, Internet, and the Poor
When the "Internet terminals for the poor" message was
posted to another list a few days ago, I responded as
follows...
-----------------------
Without knowing a lot more about "The PL/I-ACCESS Project"
(and little things like *why* everyone needs Internet access),
I won't comment on the overall posting...but this chunk really
hit me in the eye:
> 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.
This seems to be saying that a private effort can legitimately
claim the "space and people resources" of publicly-funded
libraries--presumably, to the detriment of whatever else those
people and that space was being used for. Since when?
Show me public libraries with more than enough staff and
plenty of space, and I'll show you public libraries *already*
offering Internet services...or at least, Internet services
related to public library services. Tell me that a private
operation has any legitimate right to coopt people and space
from libraries that are short of both, and I'll tell you you're
wrong.
Public libraries don't normally provide free telephone
services for the poor, or free television sets, or "50 or
more" free local newspaper copies in metropolitan libraries.
I don't understand why Internet services (in general) are
more important or more special.
Sorry if this is perceived as a flame. Well, no, I'm not.
I should make it clear that these are purely personal
observations, with no organizational standing behind them.
-walt crawford, br.wcc@rlg.org-
-------------------
I hadn't responded to PACS-L (like some other old tired
PACS-L veterans, I rarely post under any conditions these
days...), but the response I saw today makes me reconsider.
I'll stand by the comments above--but without adding the
remarkably mean-spirited and simplistic "the Internet is
THE FUTURE!" tone of the other response. Public libraries
who say "well, the poor don't pay for us, so screw 'em"
are abandoning key tenets of the whole public library
movement. And if, indeed, "the future" of libraries is solely
in the Internet -- which I regard as pure nonsense (it's a
PART of library futures, but only a part) -- then I'd be a
whole lot more sympathetic to the PL/I movement.
I don't want to get into a flame war here, but can't we
recognize realistic limits for public librares as safety
nets without going to such extremes? And isn't it a little
late in the game to still believe that The Internet Is The
Future?
-walt crawford-
"And, Not Or," if you really must have a motto.
