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October 2000 LibraryNet Monthly TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. NATIONAL BROADBAND ACCESS PROMISEDOn October 16, 2000, the Government of Canada announced that it is committed to making broadband Internet services available to businesses and residents in all Canadian communities by the year 2004. A National Broadband Task Force will be established to advise the government on how best to achieve this goal. The Task Force, to be chaired by Dr. David Johnston, President of the University of Waterloo, will examine a sample of communities representing the full range of Canadian circumstances with respect to number of households, distance from existing high speed infrastructure, and other important elements. The Task Force will report on its findings and lay out a strategy for meeting the government's objective by March 31, 2001. Other members of the Task Force will be announced later this fall. For more
information: 2. CANADIANS MOVING TO HIGH-SPEED CONNECTIONSA report released October 2 predicts that high-speed Internet connections will replace dial-up access as the standard way for Canadians to connect to the web by 2002. "Strategies & Trends in the Canadian Internet/ISP Market 2000" was prepared by Toronto-based Convergence Consulting Group Ltd. The report predicts that paid dial-up Internet access will hit its peak in 2001, accounting for 55 per cent of the total market. However, by 2002, dial-up will make up only 41 per cent of the consumer market. Over 3 million households will have high-speed connections by then, through either cable or telephone digital subscriber lines. (Last year, 82 per cent of households used dial-up access methods.) The report also predicts that increased high-speed access will open the door to advanced multimedia services and lead to the end of free on-line content. The report is based on interviews and numbers from Canada's major Internet access providers. For more
information: 3. WINDSOR PUBLIC LIBRARY OFFERS BROWSING BY EMAILThe Windsor Public Library has become the first library in Canada to offer book browsing by email. Its OnLine Book Club was launched on Friday, September 29. "We don't know of any other library in Canada who's doing it," said CEO Steve Salmons. "It's a great idea and there's a lot of room for expansion. Right now it's general interest books. In future, we hope to expand the service to more specific audiences as well, such as business people, teens and people with sight impairments. We're bringing the books to people instead of people to books." The free service is available to everyone with access to a computer and an e-mail address (including free webmail addresses) who registers at the Windsor Public Library web site. Monday through Friday, the library will send them a short daily e-mail containing a portion of a popular book. If they are intrigued by the samples, they can come into the library to borrow the book. The Windsor Public Library has joined many American public libraries in offering the popular free service. The idea started with Florida businesswoman Suzanne Beecher, head of a computer services company and an avid reader herself, who discovered that her employees had difficulty finding time to browse for books. "I just want people to read more," Beecher said. "Of course, the library has an interest in people reading more and through the Online Book Club we can work toward that common goal." Beecher's new company, Chapter-A-Day, sells books to people who would rather buy than borrow. For more
information: 4. ONTARIO PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE AWARD WINNERSOn October 20, the recipients of the Ontario Public Library Service Awards for 2000 were announced. Two libraries received Minister's Awards for Innovation for launching successful projects that represent new concepts in public library service. The North Bay Public Library won for its Virtual City Hall project, which offers full-text access to 106 years of all municipal by-laws, municipal forms, a customer service centre and an interactive electronic citizens' forum. The innovation of a web-based database creates the most comprehensive municipal website in Ontario. The library created this service through successful partnerships with the City of North Bay and 23 different municipal departments. The Windsor Public Library was recognized for its Electronic Books service. Windsor is the first Ontario public library to make electronic books available to library users at three of its branches. Two other libraries were given Angus Mowat Awards of Excellence, in recognition of outstanding public library service. The Dunnville Public Library's Community Partnerships project enlisted the support of community groups, including Friends of the Dunnville Library, Dunnville Horticultural Society, City Hall and many other volunteers to beautify the physical surroundings of the public library. The Pickering Public Library developed the "Starting and Growing A Small Business in Pickering" website in co-operation with the City of Pickering to support small and home-based businesses. The site links users to other sites of interest and provides electronic access to some commonly used forms and publications. For more
information: 5. STUDY ON WOMEN AND THE WEB NEEDS PARTICIPANTSChristine Marton, a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto, is seeking participants for her study on the use of the Internet by women. Women of all ages and backgrounds who work in Information Technology professions (i.e. website designer, programmer or administrator/manager) are invited to participate in a 2-week long study on work-related use of the web. This study builds on a previous study of how knowledge workers use the web to seek external information (i.e. information about developments in the IT field and information about competitors) as part of their daily work. Because the population of that study was primarily male, it is of interest to investigate whether women in the IT sector have similar or dissimilar patterns of Internet use, particularly as the number of women in the IT sector is growing rapidly. The study currently has participants from a wide variety of IT-related companies and institutions, including several from Bell Canada and Hummingbird Communications. For more
information or to participate, visit the study website: 6. DIGITAL DIVIDE NETWORK CALLS FOR CONTRIBUTIONSThe Digital Divide Network (DDN) is a new U.S. coalition of non-profit institutions and IT companies working together to help bridge the digital divide. The network's official website serves to raise awareness about the gulf that exists between the citizens who have access to information technology and the skills to use it effectively, and those who do not. The DDN is currently developing a searchable database of public Internet access points and other local digital divide initiatives in the U.S. Users will be able to enter their location and find out what's going on in their community regarding the digital divide. The database is expected to be online in January 2001. The DDN is also encouraging individuals to submit articles that address the digital divide from a variety of social, cultural, political and/or economic perspectives. The intent is to provide a forum for educators, policy professionals, community leaders and practitioners to share their experiences so that others may learn from them. If you are
interested in contributing an article of between 700 to 1500 words to
the Digital Divide Network, please contact: To visit
the DDN website: 7. STOCKHOLM CHALLENGE CONTINUESThe Stockholm Challenge 2001 is now officially open. The Challenge is a non-profit initiative of the City of Stockholm in partnership with the European Commission, open to any project which uses information and communication technology to make a difference for people and society. It offers IT pioneers from around the world a unique opportunity to showcase projects of excellence, which can be private, public, academic or non-profit. The new Stockholm Challenge entry form and participation criteria will be posted on the Internet in October 2000; the awards will be announced in September 2001. Past award winners are welcome to submit new applications highlighting the progress they have made. For more
information, or to enter: 8. U.S. DIGITAL DIVIDE REPORT SINGLES OUT INTERNET LITERACYA new report claims that an entire generation of Americans could become Internet illiterate. The Gartner Group's "Digital Divide and American Society Report" is based on responses to a February survey from 40,000 U.S. adults. 50 million of those are in danger of becoming "functionally illiterate" due to a lack of knowledge of or access to the Internet. Just 35 percent of American adults in the lower-socioeconomic-status bracket have Internet access, compared to 53 percent in the lower-middle bracket, 79 percent in the upper-middle bracket, and 83 percent in the top bracket. The report also found that three digital divides exist - simple access to the Internet, an experience gap, and a third divide based on speed of access to the Internet. The experience gap is the divide between those people who know how to benefit from the Internet and those who lack the knowledge to gain advantage from the power of the Web. As broadband access gradually increases, the report projects that a third gap will develop between those with high-speed access and those without it. The full
text of the report is available at: 9. NEW U.S. GOVERNMENT REPORT ON DIGITAL DIVIDEMore Americans than ever have Internet access and own computers, according to a report released on October 16 by the U.S. Department of Commerce. "Falling Through the Net: Toward Digital Inclusion" found that virtually every group has participated in the sharp upward trend of Americans to connect their homes to the Internet, suggesting that the digital divide may be starting to narrow. The latest report is the fourth in a series that measures the gap between Americans with access to information technologies and those without access. According to the report, "the data show that the overall level of U.S. digital inclusion is rapidly increasing." As evidence of the rapid rise in the level of digital inclusion, the report cited (among other statistics) an increase in the share of households with Internet access, rising from 26.2 percent in December 1998 to 41.5 percent in August 2000, an increase of 58 percent. Rural areas, once left behind, are catching up quickly with other parts of the country and have surpassed some cities in Internet use. The report also claims that the disparity in Internet usage between men and women has disappeared. However, noticeable divides still exist between those with different income and education levels, different racial and ethnic groups, old and young, single and dual-parent families, and those with and without disabilities. "The Internet is no longer a luxury item, but a resource used by many," the report concludes. "Taken as a whole, the findings show that there has been tremendous progress in closing the nation's technology gap, but much work remains to be done." The full
text of the report is available online at: 10. CANADIAN VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY NOW OPENThe Canadian Virtual University / Université virtuelle canadienne (CVU-UVC) officially opened its doors on September 29. The CVU-UVC is a partnership of six universities with a long-standing commitment to distance education: Athabasca University, Brandon University, Laurentian University, the Open Learning Agency, Royal Roads University, and the University of Manitoba. The University of Victoria is also participating as a provider of diploma programs. CVU-UVC will offer more than 1,500 distance education courses (about 160 of them online) that can be combined to create more than 100 degree, certificate, and diploma programs. While students will register and pay their fees at one of the participating universities, and their certification will be granted by that "home" university, they may register for appropriate courses offered by any of the other member universities. Funding for CVU-UVC comes from the federal and provincial governments and from the institutions themselves; Industry Canada provided a grant to set up the website. For more
information: 11. ONLINE WEB DESIGN WORKSHOPWhen university and other educational web pages are created using universal design principles, they provide better access to education for students with disabilities than ever before. However, if the wrong design choices are made, these students may be denied access to an education altogether. This workshop explains the World Wide Web Consortium's guidelines for accessible design. The workshop is led by instructors experienced in adaptive computer technology and distance learning. Taught through e-mail and the web, it includes the use of some multimedia (requiring you to download RealPlayer). This is not a course in HTML, but teaches the principles and features necessary to make your HTML pages accessible. It focuses on 2 different audiences: web designers who know HTML but want to learn how to design with access in mind, and those who do not design web sites but want to know how to persuade web designers that accessibility is possible. The workshop begins October 30 and runs for four weeks. Special rates are available for groups and TLT Roundtables. For more
information or to register: 12. NEW ONLINE WRITING PROGRAM AT CENTENNIAL COLLEGEIn January 2001, Toronto's Centennial College will launch a post-graduate program in Online Writing and Information Design. The new program provides students with the writing skills and technical understanding needed to work as Web content managers, online editors and writers. Courses making up the program include storytelling and editing in non-linear media ("hypernarrative"), online interviewing, user interface design principles, online law and ethics, and hypertext grammar. Eight-week job placements will offer students real-world experience. This intensive 10-month program requires entrants to have either a university degree or college diploma, or a combination of partial post- secondary education and relevant work experience. Applicants are expected to possess strong writing skills. For more
information: 13. BARNES & NOBLE OFFERING FREE ONLINE COURSESThe U.S. bookstore chain Barnes & Noble is now offering classes through a new online "University." Users must register for access to all of the classroom functions, including reading lessons, answering quizzes and assignments, and communicating with the instructor and other classmates. A wide selection of courses are offered in the areas of Arts & Entertainment, Business & Education, Health & Family, History & Society, Home & Leisure, Life Improvement, Literature & Languages, and Science & Technology. New classes start November 6. Visit the
Barnes & Noble University at: 14. VRD DIGITAL REFERENCE AWARDSThe Virtual Reference Desk (VRD) Annual Exemplary Service Awards recognize outstanding digital reference and "Ask A " services for their contributions to the field of online Q&A, and for excellence in Internet-based information provision. The 2000 VRD Exemplary Services are:
The awards were presented during the VRD 2000 Annual Conference, "The Facets of Digital Reference," on October 16, 2000. The VRD is a project dedicated to the advancement of digital reference and the successful creation and operation of human-mediated, Internet-based information services. VRD is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, with support from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. For more
information: 15. AMERICAN IT WORKFORCE COMMISSION REPORTThe 21st Century Workforce Commission is an independent body, made up of 17 members from business, education, labour, and government appointed by the U.S. Congress. It was charged with taking a "snapshot" of the present American information technology workforce, and reporting on how best to ensure that American workers have the opportunity to prepare for the IT jobs of today and tomorrow. The Commission's final report was released on June 27, 2000. "A Nation of Opportunity: Strategies for Building America's 21st Century Workforce" makes recommendations for developing the U.S. high tech workforce, and analyzes how partnerships of education, business and government can address the critical shortages of skilled workers in IT jobs. Several keys to success are identified in the report, the first being the need for every American to achieve "21st Century Literacy - strong academic, thinking, reasoning, teamwork skills, and proficiency in using technology." An accompanying appendix, "Comparative Analysis of International Policy and Practice for High- Technology Workforce Development," looks at the efforts of several countries (including Canada) to enhance the information technology skills base of their citizens. For the full
text of the report: 16. CONFERENCE ARCHIVES AVAILABLE ONLINEThe archives of a global Virtual Conference on the use of Information Communications Technology (ICT) to engage and empower communities are now available for access in a variety of formats. The conference
archives, the original Powerpoint presentation and individual audio-visual
presenter contributions are all available from the conference main page
at: 17. SCHOOLNET ADVISORY BOARD SEEKING MEMBERSSchoolNet is looking for young thinkers between the ages of 10-18 to represent Canada on the SchoolNet Youth Advisory Board. This is their chance to voice their thoughts on technology and the future, how technology affects their learning, and what needs to be done to ensure equal access to technology for all. If you know young people who are intelligent, motivated to express their views and make recommendations, encourage them to apply to be a member of the SchoolNet Youth Advisory Board. The Board is seeking applications from all Canadian youth, including aboriginal youth, visible minorities and youth with disabilities. For more
information: 18. CALL FOR PAPERSComputing
Arts: Digital Resources for Research in the Humanities 2001 This conference will explore the impact of digitization on the humanities, and will focus on new methods of creating, using and conserving the resources which comprise our common cultural heritage. It will be the first forum of its kind in the region to bring together practitioners in such a wide range of disciplines. Suggested topics of interest for papers include, but are not limited to: humanities computing; scholarly editing; text encoding; text analysis; textual studies; hypertext; text corpora; computational linguistics; GIS mapping; digital libraries; archival description; digital imaging; image delivery; iconic visualisation; multimedia; languages; scripts; special characters; unicode; electronic publishing; markup languages; XML; pedagogical applications; institutional implications of humanities computing; national and international coordination and collaboration issues and outcomes; and funding. For more
information: 19. USEFUL INTERNET RESOURCESThe ELITE Project website is an excellent source of information about distance access to libraries. It offers up-to-date information about, and links to, libraries which are using conferencing, chat, MOOs, e- mail, web forms, and "MyLibrary" interfaces. Other resources include articles on the topic, and links to companies providing the hardware and software necessary. The site is maintained by the Electronic Library, IT and staff Education Project (ELITE) at the University of Leicester, England. http://www.le.ac.uk/li/distance/eliteproject/index.htm Blacksburg, Virginia was one of the first communities in North America to install a fibre/wireless broadband infrastructure. The Blacksburg Electronic Village (BEV) is an outreach effort of Virginia Tech, in partnership with the Town of Blacksburg, based entirely on the Internet. The goals of the project include investigating the factors that make community networks self-supporting and responsive to user needs, and providing support and assistance to other communities that are trying to develop healthy community networks. The BEV website's Digital Library has an excellent compilation of papers on the importance of community broadband networks. A few of the relevant titles are "Telecommunications for neighborhoods and communities: four key areas of investment", which discusses the key structural impediments to an open telecommunications marketplace in communities and neighbourhoods, and "Community-based Broadband Telecommunications Infrastructure," a short report on the key elements of a community- based infrastructure. Other material includes a Community Network Planning Guide with checklists, a Cabling Standards document which covers key design and construction issues, and one page handouts on telecommunications infrastructure and the benefits of community networks. Visit the
BEV Digital Library at: 20. CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTSIST 2000:
The Information Society for All The Information Society: A chance for everyone? Will it strengthen competitiveness in Europe? What technological challenges are at stake? How can we change the rules to support this process in a sustainable way? These are some of the main themes which will be on the agenda of the IST 2000 conference sessions and workshops. This conference provides an opportunity to discuss the challenges ahead, at the dawn of the 21st century, in line with the European Commission's initiative. The conference is organized each year by the European Commission Information Society Directorate-General. For more
information or to register: Wired for
Civil Engagement: Using New Technology to Build Community "Wired for Civic Engagement: Using New Technology to Build Community," will look closely at how civic engagement can be revitalized in the Information Age. This conference will discuss the positive and potentially negative impacts of technology on political and civic engagement and the health of our communities. It will also explore ways to harness the power of technology to improve our democracy. For more
information or to register: If
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