[440] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Internet and Public Libraries
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Mon Jun 8 12:20:05 1992
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 1992 10:42:07 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
3 Messages, 48 Lines
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From: Lisa deGruyter <ldeg@tenet.edu>
Subject: Re: Internet and Public Libraries
I believe that Brewster Kahle, in his description of "ATM-like" libraries
at ASIS, specifically mentioned providing programs and children's
picture books, in these very small, convenient storefronts. They sounded
to me very much like many public library branches now, but with
electronic sources to provide much more reference/information depth than
is available now.
I do think that if public libraries do not start incorporating this
technology very soon, we will find that those who can afford it will pay
for direct network access and front-end support from other sources, and
those who cannot afford it will not have access at all.
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From: tleonhardt@MADVAX.UOP.EDU
Subject: Re: Child of Computerspeak
Unfortunately, in California at least, the biggest threat to public libraries
is lack of adequate funding. Proposition 13 is still wreaking havoc on public
libraries, among other things. Access to the Internet is probably not even in
the top ten concerns of public libraries.
I am an academic librarian but my family and I use public libraries heavily for
recreational reading and for access to materials not in a university library.
I serve on a board of directors for a multi-type library cooperative and the
issues we are dealing with, after budgets, of course, concern literacy
programs, service to the underserved (the poor, the new immigrants, those
with learning and other disabilities), and how to keep our cooperative
alive as state funding gradually disappears.
Tom Leonhardt
University of the Pacific
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From: "A.J. Wright" <MEDS002@UABDPO>
Subject: Re: Internet and Public Libraries
B. Kahle's idea of mall-based branches for initial access to the information
universe is taken one step further by Ted Nelson's Xanadu project, which he
is currently envisioning as information kiosks franchised like McDonald's via
which anyone with a credit card (or whatever) would have access to the
e-universe of information. I read last year that Nelson was supposed to start
selling the initial franchises this year; anybody have any very-up-to-date
info on this visionary project, which Nelson has been developing for a couple
of decades?---A.J. Wright/meds002@uabdpo
