 |
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
|
|  |
   
|
|||
|
January 2000 LibraryNet Monthly TABLE OF CONTENTS
CALL FOR "BEST PRACTICES" NOMINATIONSLibraryNet will soon be preparing our fourth annual "Best Practices" Report on Innovative Internet use in Canadian public libraries. The report is written to provide trail-blazing libraries with recognition for their efforts, and to inspire other Canadian libraries to create their own Internet applications. If you know of a library (yours or another) using the Internet in fresh ways to deliver information to assist patrons and/or staff, email LibraryNet at ln-rb@schoolnet.ca with details of the project and its URL. Look for this year's Best Practices report at LibraryNet's booth at the CLA Conference in Edmonton, June 21 to 25. Past editions are available on the LibraryNet website. For more
information: FRANCOMMUNAUTÉS VIRTUELLES PROPOSAL DEADLINEA call for proposals for Francommunautés virtuelles 2000-01 projects is now posted on their Web site. Libraries, community organizations, and other interested parties should send in their proposals soon - the deadline is February 18, 2000. Francommunautés virtuelles is an Industry Canada program designed to help Canada's Francophone and Acadian communities take full advantage of information and communications technologies. Its objectives are to increase content, applications and services in French on the Internet and to promote networking among Francophone and Acadian communities throughout Canada. Since 1998, French-speaking and Acadian communities in all parts of Canada have initiated over 50 projects creating new networks, enhancing information technology skills among their members, and contributing to the growing body of on-line content in French. Current projects include developing an electronic commerce application for French-speaking regions, creating a web site for adult literacy trainers in French-speaking regions, and creating a French-language e-mail interface for young people. The Francommunautés virtuelles program contributes up to 50% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $75,000 per project. Applicants must be Canadian not-for-profit legal entities. For more
information: GATES FUNDING FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA LIBRARIESOn January 26, 2000, Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Doyle announced that B.C.'s public libraries will be receiving a $2.5 million gift from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The money is part of an initiative that has seen the Foundation award more than $35 million to libraries in the United States and Canada since 1997. The grant will be used to buy computer equipment, improve Internet access and provide computer-training facilities for library staff and the public. The grant will fund 401 workstations in 101 library branches across the province. Libraries in Nanaimo, Burnaby, Kamloops and Kelowna will also receive computer-training labs that each contain 11 workstations. In addition to grants to public libraries, the province's library services branch will receive a mobile computer-training lab. The lab will be used to train library staff in the regional centres and then travel to public libraries throughout B.C. to provide computer training to the public. Separately, Microsoft Canada will provide software with a retail value of $1.02 million to libraries receiving Foundation grants. In conjunction with existing provincial programs, this grant will help increase access to computer technology for all British Columbians. For more
information: LIBRARY CONNECTIVITY IN FRANCEEach year, the French Ministry for Culture and Communications undertakes a survey of the more than 3000 public libraries in France. A summary of the results from the 1997 survey is available on the Ministry's Internet site. In 1994, only two libraries indicated that they were connected to the Internet. By 1998, 188 libraries reported at least one computer connected to the Internet, 137 of which offered access to the public. 63% of the libraries had only one public-access terminal; 16% offered two, while 17% had three to eight terminals. Only 5 libraries had more than 10 Internet terminals available to their users. 8.4% of the libraries in communities with more than 2000 inhabitants offered public Internet access. In 55% of the libraries, there was some form of fee for access. Most libraries had specific policies regarding Internet access, and some restricted access through various kinds of filtering software." As of 1998, fourteen institutions had made, or planned to make, their catalogues available on line via the Internet. 41 libraries had created web sites. For more
information: WINDSOR LIBRARY LEADERS IN WECONNECTThe Smart Communities Demonstration Project initiative is a nation-wide competition to select 12 "world-class" Smart Communities - one in each province, one in the North and one in an Aboriginal community. Selected projects will receive up to $5 million in program funding over three years to support their Smart Community vision. They will also gain valuable experience and knowledge by networking with other selected demonstration projects and international recognition. On November 15, 1999, Stage Two of the Smart Communities Demonstration Project competition began, in which selected applicants were invited to submit a complete business plan. The Windsor Public Library was invited to submit a business plan for their WEConnect initiative. Envisioned under WEConnect are seventeen new "smart services" in five different sectors: Health Care, Education, Government, Economic Development, and Community. Some of the proposed new services include: making epidemiological data and information regarding health services available online; online versions of a variety of government applications, licensing, and fee services; and an "Ask the Expert" feature where community leaders will respond to citizen's questions within their area of expertise. Other proposals include providing computers to 3000 families free of charge, based on socio-economic need, and creating a consolidated library search utility to allow citizens one-stop access to all available local holdings. The finalists of the Smart Communities competition will be announced in the spring of 2000. For more
information: GET SMART! PAPERS ONLINESeveral presenters from the Get Smart! : Economic Development, Libraries, and Smart Communities conference held in Toronto in June 1999 have made written versions of their papers available through LibraryNet. Fourteen papers can now be viewed online in PDF format. To read the
papers: E-CONFERENCING PILOT PROJECTThis e-conferencing pilot project on November 30, 1999 demonstrated the potential for libraries to offer information highway services to their patrons and the public, through the development and delivery of e-commerce applications. This potential was shown by means of a videoconference linking seven locations; five in Ontario, one in Alberta, and a site in a law office in Washington , D.C. Participants viewed a series of presentations on television monitors in seven locations. The presentations were transmitted to all other locations of the e-conference by videocameras linked to high-speed telephone lines. All participants could hear and see the same presentation at the same time. Speakers could field questions from the audience. This was done by scanning the audience one location at a time by videocamera, allowing the speaker to see and acknowledge the questioner. This e-conference demonstrated that technology is available to allow libraries to facilitate and initiate the presentation of seminars, to generate revenues toward self-sufficiency by joining forces with the private sector to offer network-driven sectors, and to be points of presence in their communities for information and services. Participants also spoke informally after the teleconference about the value of sessions like this, the library's role in community and economic development, and where to go from here on e-commerce sharing and collaboration. For more
information: WALL STREET JOURNAL INTERNET REPORTOn December 6, the Wall Street Journal published a Special Report on the Internet and its impact on daily life which claimed that in just a few years, the Internet has moved from "novelty to necessity." By the end of 1999, more than 100 million Americans were estimated to be connected to the Internet, according to Jupiter Communications, a New York research firm. But are they making the most of their time on the Web? The sheer number of Internet sites is staggering. Now consumers are also barraged by television ads for dozens of new dot-coms. According to a recent survey from International Data, most Web surfers claim to use the Internet for utilitarian reasons. About 68% of online users read news, 56% check out the weather and 50% get financial information or services. Only 9% say they use it for entertainment. This is in direct contrast to a report written by Dr. Ann Curry of the School of Library, Archival, and Information Studies at the University of British Columbia. The study uses transactional log analysis (TLA) of data gathered from web server logs at the Burnaby (BC) Public Library. The highest percentage of web sites visited (30.7%) were email or chat-related. The authors of the study point out, however, that every time an email function is performed on a web browser, a new URL is generated. This may have produced a disproportionate number of log entries compared to other activities or subjects. Entertainment (mass culture) and business were the next most popular topics, at 8.2% and 8.1% respectively. Search engines and directory sites represented 7.5% of the web sites visited. Unfortunately, 12.7% of the log was classified as "unidentifiable" - sites that the researchers were unable to access in order to determine their subject area. Most new Internet users are eager to try many sites and services. However, once they've been on the Internet for a while, users tend to settle into patterns, checking only the few sites that have managed to hold their attention or those they have used to store personal information, such as their stock portfolio. According to Jupiter Communications, almost three-quarters of users who have been online for more than two years navigate the Internet primarily via bookmarks, the lists of favorite sites which users save on their browsers. New sites are found mostly through the large search engines and web portals such as Yahoo and Excite. BRANT BUSINESS INFORMATION NETWORKThe Brantford Public Library hosted the launch of the Brant Business Information Network on Monday January 24, 2000. The Brant Business Information Network is a community-based resource led by several local organizations, including the Brantford Public Library, with funding from Human Resources Development Canada. Here both local and international surfers can get complete information on Brant's businesses and human resource organizations - who they are, what they do, how to reach them. The BBIN includes a directory of local businesses and a database of links to useful sites on topics such as Business Startup, Career Planning, and Education & Training. To visit
the site: VIRTUAL REFERENCE LIBRARY CONTINUES TO EXPANDThe Virtual Reference Library is a web site of the Toronto Public Library (TPL) which guides users to both Internet information sources and the resources of the library itself. The VRL Subject Guide to the Internet presents over 8,000 of the best Internet sites on over 25 subjects, selected and indexed by staff at TPL and Toronto Reference Library, which can be browsed by subject or searched by keyword. Internet sites produced in Canada are a particular focus. TPL staff have also created a number of specialized indexes and gateways to Internet information available from the VRL site. For example, the Career Bookmarks gateway pulls together a comprehensive library of online and print sources for those who need assistance in getting a job or planning a career. The VRL also hosts links to TPL's own collections and indexes, including the library's first digital collection, the 19th century Toronto City Directories, which are being scanned and converted for full-text searching. The years 1797 to 1877 are currently available online. The unique Archindont (Architectural Index for Ontario) is an index to print articles and books on buildings and architecture in Ontario. Later this year, the Library will be launching two more gateways, dedicated to news information and to Toronto neighbourhoods information; other online databases, such as full-text magazine articles, will also be added. Development of the VRL has been a collaborative effort of the Toronto Public Library, the Toronto Public Library Foundation, the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology, and the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation. The Virtual Reference Library has also received support from a growing list of sponsors and partners, including Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Human Resources Development Canada, Silicon Graphics Inc., and the Toronto Star. To visit
the Virtual Reference Library: For more
information: "CONNECTING CANADIANS" PROJECT LAUNCHOn January 24, the Ottawa, Nepean and Gloucester public libraries launched their Tri-City "Connecting Canadians" Project, a $406,000 partnership with Human Resources Development Canada which will provide over a half-million residents with expanded Internet access to government resources, including vital career and employment related information. "It's the first time three large public library systems have collaborated on a project of this scope," noted Ottawa Public Library Board Chair Tannis Yankewicz. With its share of the project funding, the Ottawa Public Library has added 30 new Internet workstations at four branches. Eight of the workstations have been installed in the Library's heavily-used Job INFO Centre downtown, a one-stop resource that offers employment-related books, periodicals, videos, electronic databases, and HRDC job-search systems. The Nepean Public Library has installed eight new Internet workstations in its Central Library and six in another branch; employment collections at NPL have also been enhanced. For the Gloucester Public Library, this project will provide Internet access to its users for the first time, at all four branches. For more
information: E-LAM REPORTS LAUNCHEDThe E-LAM Reports is a new electronic publication on e-commerce issues for libraries, archives and museums. This will be a series of four electronic reports on online and e-commerce issues of specific interest to libraries, archives and museums. Each issue will provide up-to-date information and relevant tips, trends, and tools. Case studies and evaluations of successful and interesting online and e-commerce sites of libraries, archives or museums also will be presented. Publication
will be entirely and only in electronic format, with each issue produced
in portable document format (PDF) to allow viewing in the original layout
on all systems. The E-LAM Reports will be accessible from anywhere via
a password-protected web site. Each issue will have a featured analysis
on a different topic, as follows: The E-LAM Reports are written by Lesley Ellen Harris, a lawyer, consultant, and instructor in copyright law, new media law and e-commerce. To subscribe: For more
information: DISTANCE EDUCATION BOOMINGA recent U.S. government study found tremendous growth over the last few years in both the number of distance education courses offered by colleges and universities and enrollment in those classes. Distance Education at Postsecondary Education Institutions: 1997-98 is one of the first attempts to track national trends in distance education at the university level. The report was based on a survey of 1,601 colleges, universities and other post-secondary institutions (such as nursing schools) in the United States. About 34 percent of such institutions offered distance education courses in the 1997/98 school year, and another 20 percent reported that they planned to begin offering distance education courses within three years. This means that by the present academic year (2000/2001), more than half of post-secondary institutions in the United States intend to have such courses. Looking just at colleges and universities, in the three-year period between the 1995 and the 1998 academic years, the number of distance education courses more than doubled to 52,270 from 25,730. Most of these courses were for-credit college-level. Enrollment in these classes experienced similar growth. (The researchers were unable to calculate the exact number of students, as the same person may have enrolled in more than one distance class.) There were about 1.6 million enrolments in distance education classes in the 97/98 academic year, compared to 753,640 in the 94/95 academic year. Eighty-two percent of the schools that offer or soon plan to offer distance education said they intend to provide classes primarily through "asynchronous" Internet instruction, i.e. through e-mail and the Web. The second most-popular method, cited by 61 percent of the schools, was two-way video links. Close behind, at 60 percent, was "synchronous," or real-time, instruction over the Internet, using technology like online chats. The full
text of the report is available in PDF format at: BUILDING SMART BLIND COMMUNITIES WORKSHOPBuilding
Smart Blind Communities: Knowledge Systems for Libraries For the Blind
In the Internet Age A two day workshop to be coordinated by several members of IFLA: Section of Libraries for the Blind, in cooperation with the National Library for the Blind (UK) and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). For anyone with an interest in finding out about recent developments in the use of the Internet in collection building and distribution as well as developments in library service and production tracking systems for libraries for the blind. For more
information: If
you have information you would like featured in the next issue of LibraryNet
Monthly,
|
|||||
|
||||||||
