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March 2003 LibraryNet Monthly TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. NEW "STUDY SMART" PROGRAM IN NOVA SCOTIA Students in Nova Scotia will soon be introduced to a new online study and research tool. Study Smart is a nine-week initiative of the Western Counties Regional Library (WCRL) to promote its Smart Library website, which was launched last year. The Study Smart program will introduce the Smart Library website to all first-year high school students and their teachers throughout the region. A graduate of Dalhousie University has been hired to develop the presentation, working under the direction of staff librarians. As well, a new Study Help webpage will be developed to provide step-by-step guidance in using the Smart Library site for help in conducting effective online research and study. The initiative is funded in part by Industry Canada's LibraryNet program. To visit
the Smart Library page: 2. OTTAWA'S LIBRARIES TO GET CONNECTED ONLINE Plans for the Ottawa Sm@rt Library Portal were unveiled on February 17. This new online portal will provide teachers, students, researchers and other users with fast and seamless access to the rich resources of Ottawa's diverse library systems from one easy-to-use website. Partners include the Ottawa Public Library and the National Library, as well as libraries at the University of Ottawa, Carleton University and the National Research Council. The portal is one of 13 projects under the SmartCapital umbrella, which in turn is one of the 12 demonstration projects across the country that were funded by Industry Canada's Smart Communities Program. For more
information: 3. THREE NEW UK LIBRARY PUBLICATIONS Last month, the UK Department for Culture, Media, and Sport published a new strategic document on public library service, entitled "Framework for the Future: Libraries, Learning and Information in the Next Decade." The policy document outlines the government's long-term strategic vision for the role of public libraries. Its purpose is to help municipal and library authorities agree on the key objectives for the public library service. The new strategy is intended to enable libraries to build on existing strengths and position themselves at the heart of their communities. By clarifying key priorities Framework for Future provides a focus for future work across the sector. It provides a basis for authorities to prioritize and plan services to meet the needs of citizens, adapted to best suit local circumstance. The full
report can be found online (in PDF format) here: "The evaluation of public library online services: measuring impact" is a briefing paper outlining ways to measure the impact of networked public library services, with particular reference to the UK People's Network. The paper begins by exploring the concept of "impact" and examining the different approaches that may be used to assess it. There is a particular focus on the impact of public library services on learning, reflecting current concerns with lifelong learning. The full
text of the paper is available online (in PDF format) at: "An Investment In Knowledge: Library And Information Services In The United Kingdom 2002" was published jointly by the British Council and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). This overview of the UK library and information scene begins by outlining the context in which the library sector operates in Great Britain - the administrative and legislative background, and education for library and information management. Public, school, academic, government, and business library and information services are then described in more detail. The report wraps up with a review of the UK's position in the global information society. A directory of useful addresses is also included. The full
report (in PDF format) is available at: 4. GLOBE COVERS SENIORS LEARNING THE NET AT TPL On February 20, the Globe and Mail's Technology section published an article on the Toronto Public Library (TPL) Internet program for seniors. The article quotes several attendees from a typical session, interested in learning to use email and find information and entertainment online. The free course was launched two years ago in response to requests from seniors interested in learning to surf. It is limited to people 50 and older, although most participants are in their late 60s or 70s. According to the TPL, the "Web Basics for Seniors" program has been in high demand from the outset and is almost always full. Susan Back, manager of access services at the Toronto Reference Library, describes it as "a real success story." The computer training courses for seniors are offered at the downtown reference library and at ten branches across the city. At the reference library, 267 seniors took the course last year (attendance figures for the branches are not available). To read the
full text of the story: 5. PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND WIRELESS NETWORKS Bell Canada recently announced a three month pilot project to provide Canadians with wireless high-speed access to the Internet. During the project, a number of high traffic payphones and other locations in or near Toronto and Montreal - including Kingston's Frontenac Public Library - will be made into Wi-Fi access points. (Wi-Fi, short for Wireless Fidelity, is the most common term for high-speed wireless local area networks in offices, homes and public spaces.) AccessZone will give travelers and others with 802.11b enabled laptops or wireless handheld devices another option for accessing the Internet in public locations. "Based on the success of the AccessZone pilot, Bell plans to work with other enterprise customers across Canada to build a large AccessZone footprint where customers can gain wireless Internet access in a number of convenient Wi-Fi hotspot locations," said Terry Mosey, President of Bell Ontario. For more
information: More and more public libraries in the United States are turning to wireless networks to provide Internet access for both staff and patrons. Wireless can be an excellent solution for older buildings, heritage structures, and anywhere that removing walls might expose asbestos or simply be prohibitively expensive. The William F. Laman Public Library in North Little Rock, Arkansas is housed in a 1960s poured concrete building that made rewiring or cable access both difficult and expensive. The library recently found that wireless technology had reached the point where it would solve those problems in a cost-effective way. Within the Laman Public Library, Internet access, databases, and the library OPAC are all accessible via a wireless network. Laptop computers are available for library users to use, so they can sit anywhere in the building and access not only electronic media but be physically near whatever printed materials they want or need. Besides connecting them to all these resources, the wireless network also enables printing from any of the laptops to the laser printer at the Reference desk. For a list
of more libraries using wireless networks see: SolutionInc, a Halifax-based Internet access software vendor, recently helped the public library in Brookline, Massachusetts implement "hot spot" Internet access service for its patrons' portable computers. The Brookline Library serves a metropolitan Boston community of 57,000. According to the Library Director, Chuck Flaherty, about one in 50 patrons comes in with a laptop or PDA, and "we fully expect this trend to grow within five years to about one in every 10 patrons." Patrons can now web browse via wireless connections in the library's new Internet café and throughout the newly expanded children's section. The new network meant that the library could offer Internet access without expensive or damaging alterations to its 1909 classical-revival style main branch. At the core of the new wireless network is SolutionInc's hot spot software, which recognizes patrons' laptops when they fire up their Internet browser - giving them instant access to a T1 line to the Internet. No new software or network settings are required. For more
information: 6. DIGITAL REFERENCE ISSUE OF D-LIB MAGAZINE The February 2003 issue of D-Lib Magazine focuses on the theme of digital reference. The five articles in this special issue cover topics from question negotiation in the electronic environment, to the technical environment within which digital reference occurs, to a pilot study on evaluating the quality of chat reference service. D-Lib Magazine is a solely electronic publication with a primary focus on digital library research and development. To read the
February issue: 7. CANADIAN FEDERAL BUDGET AND LIBRARIES John Manley, the Minister of Finance, delivered the 2003-04 budget to the House of Commons on February 18. $100 million is earmarked for the establishment of a Canadian Learning Institute, as proposed at the National Summit on Innovation and Learning in November 2002. The Institute's key objective will be to address gaps in the data on education and learning to assist Canadians in making future decisions about investments in learning. In addition, SchoolNet and the Community Access Program will receive $30 million in funding this year. The government also announced that it will review all of its programs that connect Canadians with information and knowledge in order to determine how best to collaborate with industry, the provinces, and local communities. For more
information: 8. U.S FEDERAL CASH FOR LIBRARIES On March 6, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill which reauthorizes an earlier act providing for federal support to libraries. The Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 authorizes $215 million for libraries in fiscal year 2004, and "such sums" for fiscal years 2005-2009. A companion bill in the Senate would authorize $350 million in the first year. (The authorization figure is a guide, not an appropriation.) Also, the 2003 budget (signed into law on February 20) includes nearly $10 million in funding for libraries to recruit and train the next generation of librarians. In all, the budget allocates over $200 million for library programs - up from $195 million last year. Federal funding for libraries and museums in the United States is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). For more
information: Last month James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, announced that the Library had received approval from Congress for its "Plan for the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP)," which will enable the Library to launch the first phase of building a national infrastructure for the collection and long-term preservation of digital content. Congressional approval of the plan means the Library can move forward with developing it, and funds for the next phase of NDIIPP will be released. The NDIIPP legislation asks the Library to raise up to $75 million in private funds and in-kind contributions, which Congress will match. For more
information: 9. DISABLED-ACCESSIBLE INTERNET COMPUTERS IN PENNSYLVANIA LIBRARIES Last month, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Central Pennsylvania announced that it will install Internet workstations accessible to the disabled in dozens of public libraries across the region. The Dauphin County Library System (DCLS) will host the prototype of the assistive technology Internet workstation, because of its accessibility to the disabled. DCLS was recently awarded another grant to make 8 of its own computers accessible to people with various disabilities. The computers will be networked into a Virtual Private Network connecting ten UCP program sites and other services throughout the region, including real-time training programs. The initiative, officially known as the "Accessible Internet Workstation and Infrastructure Technology Project," is funded by the US Department of Commerce's Technology Opportunities Program (TOP). This year, TOP awarded grants to 74 non-profit organizations across the United States in order to extend the benefits of advanced telecommunications technologies to under-served communities and neighborhoods. For more
information: 10. PUBLIC LIBRARIES HELP BRIDGE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN U.S. 74% of blacks and 65% of Hispanics in the U.S. now have access to the Internet from at least one location, according to the latest "Internet and Multimedia" report by Arbitron and Edison Media Research, released on February 25. The report recognizes that American public libraries and schools "have done an exceptional job in providing more access to ethnic constituencies". However, the study also notes that the "digital divide" is still wide when it comes to home and work Internet access. 70% among whites have Internet access at home or work, while only 48% of Hispanics and 60% of blacks do. Over a third (34%) of blacks and nearly a quarter (24%) of Hispanics use public libraries to access the Internet, compared with 19% of white Americans. Arbitron and Edison estimate that 75% of the total U.S. population is using the Internet. 78% of those users are white, 9% are black and 7% are Hispanic. To read the
executive summary of the results (in PDF format): 11. GATES SUPPORTS INVESTING IN LIBRARIES An op-ed column on the digital divide by Bill Gates appeared in the Seattle Times on February 21. Gates reviews the statistics on Internet access for low-income and/or minority U.S. residents, and points out that "America's public libraries are making a tremendous difference." However, he is concerned about "whether our society will support public libraries so they can sustain this critical community service. ... investing in public libraries is an investment in the nation's future." To read
the full text of the column: 12. CANADA AMONG TOP TEN COUNTRIES IN "NETWORKED READINESS" The Global Information Technology Report claims to be "the most comprehensive assessment of networked readiness and its effects on economic growth and productivity." Prepared for the World Economic Forum and the World Bank, the Report benchmarks the performance of 82 countries. According to this year's report, Finland is the country best placed to take advantage of the development of information technologies. The United States placed second, while Canada was sixth, and more European and East Asian countries rounded out the top ten. 64 criteria were used in ranking countries, including technological infrastructure and the usage of technology by citizens, government and businesses. The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization "committed to improving the state of the world." Its annual meeting is held in Davos, Switzerland every year. To read
the full report (in PDF format): 13. KIDS.US DOMAIN GUIDELINES NOW AVAILABLE A draft of the proposed Content Guidelines and Requirements for the "dot kids" second level domain is now available online for public comment. On February 14, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Neustar reached an agreement regarding the implementation and operation of the kids.us domain. The agreement sets forth the guidelines under which Neustar will administer the domain and set the criteria for an entity's registration under kids.us, including child safety restrictions and content provisions. The "Dot Kids Implementation and Efficiency Act of 2002" became U.S. law last December. It is intended to create a new child-safe domain within the already existing top-level .us Internet domain. For more
information, or to read the proposed Guidelines (in PDF format): On March 9, the New York Times published an opinion piece on Internet filtering by Geoffrey Nunberg, an expert in designing automatic text classification systems (the technology many filters use) and a witness for the ALA in its challenge to the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). The article briefly recaps the passage of CIPA and the court challenges that followed. It also discusses the problems of filtering software from both technical and intellectual freedom perspectives. In the end, Nunberg points out, "librarians can help people find their way through the forest of the Web - which is one good reason for asking public libraries to serve as the mediators of Internet access for people who wouldn't otherwise have it." To read the
full text of the article: In other relevant news, a recent study by the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School found that more than 87% of active domain names share their IP addresses (i.e. their web servers) with one or more additional domains. "Web Sites Sharing IP Addresses: Prevalence And Significance" also found that more than two-thirds of active domain names share their addresses with fifty or more additional domains. While this IP sharing is usually invisible to ordinary users, it causes complications when filtering Internet content on the basis of the IP address used to host that content. With so many sites sharing IP addresses, IP-based filtering efforts are almost certain to result in overblocking (denial of access to websites without objectionable content). The Berkman Center's mission is to "explore and understand cyberspace, its development, dynamics, norms, standards, and need or lack thereof for laws and sanctions." To read the
full text of the report: For more
information about the Berkman Center: 15. U.S. APPEALS COURT RETAINS INJUNCTION ON ONLINE PORN LAW On March 6, the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Child Online Protection Act (COPA) was unconstitutional. The three-judge panel stated that the law restricts free speech because it requires commercial website operators who post content inappropriate to children to limit the content to adults. The court said that the law would effectively limit the ability of adults to view constitutionally protected content, including many non-pornographic sites. The law, which has never been enforced because of earlier court injunctions, continues to remain under injunction following this ruling. It is one of several relating to Internet decency that American courts have struck down. The U.S. government has not announced yet whether it plans to appeal the ruling. The government could ask the 3rd Circuit to rehear the case, or appeal directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. For more
information: 16. PLUG-IN INTERNET ACCESS A POWER OUTLET AWAY? An Associated Press wire story recently reported that the "electric Internet" - high-speed web access via power lines, turning every electrical outlet into an Internet connection - could soon be a reality. U.S. electrical utility companies are already testing the technology, and many consider it increasingly viable. The nonprofit Douglas Electric Cooperative in Oregon hopes to field test the technology as early as this summer. This "plug-and-play" technology could help to bridge the digital divide in rural areas, since electricity is more prevalent in homes than cable television or even telephone lines. While other broadband providers consider the technology intriguing, they stress that talk of it has been around for years, with nothing to show for it. Turning power lines into a stable, high-speed system of data transmission is far from simple. To skip disruptive high-voltage lines, data is carried over fiber-optic or telephone lines and is then injected into the power grid downstream, onto medium-voltage wires. Because signals can only make it so far before breaking apart, special electronic devices on the line catch packets of data, reamplify, and repackage them before sending them on again. Customers could connect either wirelessly, through strategically placed utility poles, or have data delivered directly into their homes via regular electric current. Digital power lines are believed to be able to carry data at roughly the same speeds as cable or DSL lines. For more
information: 17. NEW REPORT ON COMMUNITY BROADBAND APPLICATIONS The Alliance for Public Technology (APT) and the Benton Foundation recently released a new report on community-based broadband applications. "A Broadband World: The Promise of Advanced Services" features twelve case studies of community-based broadband programs, including telemedicine, e-learning, services for people with disabilities, and worker training projects. Most of the programs utilized public-private partnerships, government grants, and collaborations with other local institutions. The report was written to widen the recognition of the role of broadband in applications which serve the public interest and can contribute to both economic growth and improved quality of life. "If we are to create the connected communities envisioned here, then we must move from a discussion of speed and providers to one of applications and benefits," said Matthew Bennett, APT Policy Director. "We have to encourage projects like these to demonstrate broadband's transformative value and the need for universal deployment and access." The Benton Foundation is a non-profit organization which works to realize the social benefits made possible by the public interest use of communications. The "Broadband World" report was made possible by a grant from the AT&T Foundation. The full
text of the report is available online at: Virtual
Reference Desk Conference 2003 The Virtual Reference Desk (VRD) is now accepting proposals for its fifth annual Digital Reference Conference. The VRD Conference explores the nature of Internet-based question-and-answer service within a broad range of contexts, including libraries and information centers, government, business, education, and other industry sectors or organizations, as well as the specific issues involved in providing any type of digital reference service. Presentation topics may include, but are not limited to: digital reference service management; technology for digital reference; general issues in digital reference; and digital reference resources. The deadline for proposals is May 31, 2003. For more
information: "Cities,
Neighbourhoods and Libraries: Partnerships that Work" This one-day CLA preconference will show how public libraries can position themselves as key players in community and city-building. Municipal and public library representatives from both sides of the Canada-US border will highlight their experiences. Learn about the emerging urban agenda and the renewed interest in Canadian cities from all levels of government. Registration is US$ 150, including lunch and reception. To register: The Information
Professional as Educator Information professionals, with their specialized knowledge of information content, tools and processes, are well placed to play key roles as organizational learning leaders. This seven week online course will assist you in assessing the learning needs of your organization and show you how to design an effective training program, whether it is face-to-face, online, or blended. The fee is CDN$375. For more
information or to register: Digital
Licensing Course This nine week course will lead participants through a clause-by-clause analysis of a typical licensing agreement. The course will examine: licensing arrangements generally; what uses of works can be made through a licensing agreement; sublicenses and secondary rights; moral rights; compensation; duration of a licensing agreement; who owns what; revocation of rights in certain circumstances; credits; and warranties and indemnities. The fee is $99 US. For more
information: Current
Awareness Services on the Net Become familiar with table of contents services for leading journals and related document delivery services, learn how to find online newsletters and blogs of interest, plus tap into news feeds and customize them for your needs. The registration deadline is April 7, and the course fee is CDN$375. For more
information or to register: Canadian Economy Online This new federal government site makes economic information clear and accessible. Users will find the latest economic indicators, national and regional statistics, and definitions of concepts like "balance of trade" or "consumer price index." http://www.canadianeconomy.gc.ca/ Documentation of Internet Filtering Worldwide This project uses automated methods to test and document thousands of pages blocked by each country or other blocking system studied. In future work, the authors intend to expand analysis to Internet filtering systems in additional countries. To date, the methodology is limited to obtaining Internet access through a given country and testing a set of URLs for blockages; however, the ultimate aim is to develop a distributed software application for use in testing, analyzing, and documenting Internet filtering regimes worldwide. http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/filtering/ Early Images of Canada This website by the National Library of Canada's Rare Book Collection and the Digital Library of Canada Task Force hosts 550 searchable images taken from books published before the year 1800, including exploratory or missionary narratives. The most unique feature of this site is that it lists different versions of certain images as they were reprinted over time. http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/earlyimages/ GatesLib This mailing list and Yahoo Group for recipients of Gates Foundation computers was created to allow sharing of everything from "tips and tricks" to discussion of more complex networking issues involved in public access computing in libraries. While the focus is specifically on the use of Gates computers, discussion of other public access computing issues will be allowed. http://www.whitewright.lib.tx.us/gates Geode Use Geode (the GeoData Explorer) to view world maps of population, transportation, natural resources, political boundaries, and more. Created by the U.S. Geological Survey. Library Link Sponsored by the Emerald journal publishing company, LibraryLink provides information professionals with information on consortia developments, free online access to selected information management articles, and discussion forums on a wide range of topics. The site is split into three main areas - Library Collection Development & Management, Library Management & Information Services, and Library Technology - each with its own editorial content, a related free full-text article, links to other sites of interest, and an archive of previous issues. Membership is free, but registration is required. http://operatix.emeraldinsight.com/vl=4604481/ MyLibrary Designed for libraries, MyLibrary is a user-customizable portal interface to collections of Internet resources. The system's purpose is to reduce information overload by allowing patrons to select as little or as much information as they desire for their personal library homepage. http://dewey.library.nd.edu/mylibrary/ Stands4.com Stands4.com's goal is to be a leading Internet source for acronyms and abbreviations. Users can search on an acronym and get comprehensive results, organized by category, or browse a list of terms related to a specific subject. VRD 2002 Conference Proceedings Presentations, papers, and handouts from the Virtual Reference Desk's 2002 Digital Reference Conference (held in Chicago on November 11 and 12), are now available on the VRD website. http://www.vrd.org/conferences/VRD2002/ Wikipedia This multilingual project is an attempt to create a complete and accurate open content encyclopedia. Begun on January 15, 2001, it already includes 108006 articles in the English version alone. Wikipedia is the first serious general encyclopedia to be developed using a wiki system, which allows for general public authorship and editing of any page. If
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