INTRODUCING
LibraryNet
A CONCEPT PAPER

- - DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES - -

PREPARED FOR
Industry Canada
PREPARED BY
Stan Skrzeszewski and Maureen Cubberley
Advanced Strategic Management (ASM) Consultants
May 23, 1996

• Purpose of the Concept Paper
  
• What is LibraryNet?
  
• The LibraryNet Vision: Enabling the Knowledge Society
  
• Implementation Strategies
  
• Funding Strategy
  
• LibraryNet Advisory Committee
  
• LibraryNet Contacts

The "concept paper" serves as the foundation think piece for LibraryNet. You are invited to participate in developing a collective vision and action agenda for LibraryNet by providing your thoughts and comments on this proposal. Please see the end of the proposal (Contacts) to find out where you can send your comments.

What is LibraryNet?

LibraryNet is a new cooperative venture on the part of Canada's libraries, library jurisdictions and agencies, librarians and the federal government. LibraryNet is aimed at linking all the libraries in Canada to the information highway and to one another, and at the creation of appropriate digital content.

The original concept for LibraryNet came about at a meeting of librarians held in Ottawa on April 19, 1996. In order to make best use of the high level of expertise and shared knowledge within the library 'community', the development of LibraryNet will not be a top-down process. LibraryNet will be further developed through the ongoing input, and cooperative and innovative efforts of the different members of the library community.

LibraryNet is based on a "sharing, or cooperative model". In Canada we lack the financial resources to directly finance the creation of a national library network and service. In the "sharing model" all the different sectors and jurisdictions that make up the library community will share in the development of LibraryNet's infrastructure and content. Although industry should be a partner in the LibraryNet initiative, this "sharing model" is an alternative to a purely commercial corporate model.

Once the LibraryNet development model is finalized it can be used to bring about library connectivity across Canada. It may also be a concept that can be exported abroad as a Canadian model for the joint development of networked library services. As well, LibraryNet could serve as the catalyst for the initiation of a global, cooperative library system.

It is proposed that LibraryNet consist of 4 parallel development phases:

1. Develop site and services of use to libraries.
2. Improve public access for libraries and foster training.
3. Exploit library connectivity for community development.
4. Partner with other countries.

The LibraryNet Vision: Enabling the Knowledge Society

Canada is in the midst of a transition from an industrial to a knowledge-based society and economy. In order to create a knowledge society, every individual must have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the development of such a society, at whatever level is relevant and appropriate to the individual. Libraries, joined through community networks, are key enablers in helping all Canadians develop, and participate in, a knowledge society.

LibraryNet is based on a vision of connected, community libraries providing library and information services, which will consist of a blend of traditional library functions and new functions. LibraryNet will facilitate the transformation of Canada into a knowledge society.

Critical Elements of The LibraryNet Vision:

1. Libraries are key facilitators and centres of life-long learning.
   One of the critical purposes of LibraryNet will be to help "plug learners in" to a knowledge society. One of the defining features of a knowledge society is that it is made up of people who are involved in continuous, or life-long learning. Libraries already form part of a life-long learning infrastructure that provides educational opportunities and resources when and where they are needed. The LibraryNet initiative will support traditional educational methods as well as serve to enhance self-directed learning that is not classroom-based.
2. Libraries are cultural and recreational sites.
   A knowledge society is characterized by communities of informed, creative people striving to achieve a high level of life satisfaction. It is a society of the spirit and the imagination. In addition to their life-long learning role, libraries are also a place for the refreshment and enrichment of the human spirit. LibraryNet will be a vehicle for the expression of the records of human achievement, culture and recreation.
3. Libraries are economic development sites for the new economy.
   Economic development is the process of improving the standard of living (raising incomes) and increasing the well being of people. In a knowledge society this is done by increasing the information and knowledge-based activity relative to activity in the industrial/manufacturing and resource/agricultural sectors. Libraries are one of the building blocks of the local information and knowledge infrastructure, an infrastructure which is necessary to support knowledge-based economic development. LibraryNet will position libraries to fill the information needs of small business and those of municipal economic development initiatives. This is especially applicable for any business clusters that are central to the community's economic activity.
4. Libraries are ideal distribution points for government (federal, provincial and municipal) information and services.
   All governments are moving to the electronic communication and distribution of government information and services. Libraries are already located in most communities across Canada. They are staffed by people who are trained in the dissemination of information and they contain supporting print collections. Libraries are a ready-made electronic information distribution system which is available to government. Libraries should become part of the distribution system for government information and services. Providing this service would also help libraries to become economic development centres.
5. Libraries are enablers of community and/or municipal networks.
   The basic building block of the information infrastructure in Canada is the local community or municipal network. Libraries, because they are already in the information and networking business, are major facilitators in the development of community or municipal networks. They often help build the networks, house the equipment, provide the technical expertise, administer the networks, and train people in the use of the systems.
6. Librarians are information navigators.
   Librarians are taking on the new role of information navigators by organizing digital information and by developing information locator skills.

Implementation Strategies

1. Consultation Process.
   The release of the concept paper marks the beginning of an ongoing consultation process. The LibraryNet Advisory Committee will initiate an informal needs assessment and consultation process with the library community.
2. Vision Document and Business Plan.
   Once the initial consultation based on the concept paper has been completed, a more extensive vision document will be produced. The vision document will define the role of libraries as key facilitators of life-long learning, as economic development sites for the new economy, as business incubators, as distribution points for government (federal and provincial) information and services, as cultural and as recreational services, and supporters of community networks. Most importantly the vision document will include a detailed business case and funding strategy for LibraryNet.
3. A "Sharing Model".
   One of the principles behind the development of LibraryNet is that of building on a "sharing model" based on an integrated community approach, with linkages to community networks, or FreeNets, and existing library networks in order to derive the most benefit from the energy and economies of scale that come from working together.
4. The Keystone Strategy - Distributing Government Information.
   The keystone project strategy for LibraryNet will consist of establishing a new approach to the distribution of government information. To test the concept of libraries as deliverers of electronic government information, a pilot study with a limited number of library sites will be established. Twelve to twenty pilot sites should be selected. The sites should include large libraries as well as small libraries. The pilot will be systematically evaluated to ensure that the concept is adequately tested.
5. The Policy Framework to Support LibraryNet.
   LibraryNet policies and procedures in the areas of access, content, collections, acceptable use, and other matters for LibraryNet will be developed.
6. Librarians as Information Navigators.
   Mechanisms to ensure that Librarians have information navigation skills and information locator skills will be developed. A general education package on information literacy for librarians will bedeveloped and made available on the Web.

Funding Strategy

The funding strategy for the LibraryNet initiative is based on three concepts:

1. Funds from the SchoolNet and Community Access Programs could be allocated to foster and activate the LibraryNet initiative.
2. The library community, through the LibraryNet Advisory Committee, will form a national library consortium. This consortium will give libraries the market power to negotiate better prices for telecommunications, hardware and software, and network licenses relating to LibraryNet. The consortium will work with Industry Canada to negotiate with the telecommunications industry and other appropriate suppliers for improved prices and preferred rates for libraries.
3. Governments will use libraries for the electronic distribution of government information and services. Libraries will charge government for the provision of these services which will provide an alternative revenue stream for libraries that could be used to support the LibraryNet initiative. As part of this concept, libraries would charge public information providers to deliver their information, while the service to the public would remain free.

LibraryNet Advisory Committee

The LibraryNet initiative is being guided by a LibraryNet Advisory Committee. Industry Canada established the LibraryNet Advisory Committee, which consists primarily of representatives from the library community, as a separate committee under the SchoolNet Advisory Board. The advisory committee will be responsible for providing direction on developing and implementing the LibraryNet vision. As well, it will discuss the allocation of resources under both the SchoolNet and Community Access Programs.

The responsibilities of the LibraryNet Advisory Committee will include the following:

• Establishing policies for LibraryNet dealing with issues such as:
  • acceptable use policies,
  • collection policies,
  • pricing policies,
  • free vs. fee policies
• Developing LibraryNet standards;
• Identifying LibraryNet content;
• Creating a national coalition or consortium in order to give libraries the market power to negotiate better prices relating to LibraryNet;
• Conducting ongoing needs assessments and consultations with the library community;
• Developing and implementing a LibraryNet communications plan.

The current members of the LibraryNet Advisory Committee are:

• Karen Adams, Canadian Library Association
• Diane Bays, Industry Canada
• Barbara Clubb, Ottawa Public Library
• Gwynneth Evans, National Library of Canada
• Barbara Greeniaus, Libraries Branch, British Columbia
• Monique Lavoie, ASTED
• Tim Mark, Canadian Association of Research Libraries
• Wendy Newman, Brantford Public Library
• Marion Pape, Provincial Library, Nova Scotia
• George Skarzynski, Nepean Public Library
• Maureen Woods, Saskatchewan Provincial Library

LibraryNet Contacts

For more information on LibraryNet, please contact: