I. Course Description:

This course analyzes the present and future roles of academic, school, and public libraries in the environment of public access computing. Enabling librarians to take a leadership role in public access computing is a major goal of this course.

II. Educational/Behavioral Objectives:

1.   To be able to determine what is meant by public access computing.

2.   To understand how public models of information access differ from commercial services such as, America Online, etc;

3.   To be able to analyze the similarities and differences among public access models as, e.g., Free-Nets, community bulletin boards, virtual communities, electronic
        villages, etc.;

4.   To determine the specific services that are provided through public models of
      information access;

5.   To analyze the manner in which public access models are facilitated through public,
       university, or school sponsorship;

6.   To determine the roles that libraries and librarians have maintained in the development
      of public access computing;

7.   To enable librarians to become leaders in the future development of public access
      computing;

8. To demonstrate the manner in which the Internet is being used as a gateway by public
      access providers to a broader array of services;

9. To be able to design and implement a community information network, using the WWW; and,

10. To be able to apply the principles and techniques of grant writing to the development
        of a community information network.
 

III. Statement on Class Activities:

Students will be involved in an intense and interesting discussion of those issues that involve libraries, public access computing, and networks. In addition to class  discussions, students will spend an appropriate amount of time analyzing the attributes of  selected public access network sites using the World Wide Web. A major goal of this course is to actually design and implement a community network. Each student will develop a grant proposal relative to the establishment of a community network that, theoretically, will be submitted to the federal agency, Institute of Museum and Library Services, for consideration of funding.
 

 IV. Statement on Assignments:

In addition to class discussion generated from readings, etc., (facilitated through chat forums), students will provide an analysis of their experiences with community networks and be expected to complete scheduled assignments. Members of the class will also be responsible for implementing a community network. This will be accomplished by each member of the class developing and publishing a community Web site, comprising at least six attached pages and a minimum of  ten links/page.  Each student will develop a grant proposal relative to the funding and sustainability of the same community network for which a Web site was developed.  Finally, each student will submit a ten page paper based on the research already completed on a community network, explaining the importance and development of that network, that will be suitable for publication.  [This will basically be a repeat of the narrative section of the grant proposal.] All assignments are to be completed by May 11, 2003, with physical copies of papers to be sent to the instructor by May 16, 2003.
 

 V.  Evaluation:

Seventy percent of the semester’s grade will come from the successful completion of a community network (Web site) and accompanying grant proposal.  Fifteen percent of the final evaluation will be derived from the submission of the ten page paper describing the network.  Chat discussions, accomplished using Blackboard at online.clarion.edu (scheduled for Sundays [6:00-8:00 p.m.],  will comprise the remainder of one’s grade.  Students are expected to be available for all chat forums and actively contribute to the discussions.   In the event that a student misses a chat session, it will be expected that one will review the Blackboard archive of that chat and create an individual archive commenting on the missed discussion.  If one is absent from three unexcused chat meetings, there will be a reduction of one letter grade for the final evaluation.

VI. Textbooks:

Institute of Museum and Library Services. "2003 National Leadership Grants for Libraries and Museums, Application Guidelines."  Washington, D.C.:  IMLS, 2002.  [Paper copies are available by requesting them by email at imlsinfo@imls.gov
or downloadable from the IMLS' site.]  At the IMLS site, under "Library Services," and then under "2003 National Leadership Grants," download the "2003 Application PDF" file and the "2003 Application Fill-In Forms" file.  One may, also,  phone the Institute at 202-606-5227

Lowe, Doug.  "Networking for Dummies."  Foster City, CA: IDG Books, 4th edition, 1999.  [Recommended only.]

Postman, Neil.  "Technolopoly:  The Surrender of Culture to Technology." New York: Vintage Books, 1993.

Rheingold, Howard.  "The Virtual Community:  Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier." Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2000.

Schuler, Douglas.  "New Community Networks."  New York:  ACM Press, 1995.  [This book is out of print, but one may read it online at http://www.scn.org/civic/ncn/
 
 
 
 

Societal trends

Significance of a networked environment

Trends in telecommunications

Development of the Internet

Definition of public access networks

Distinction of role(s)

Contrast with commercial services and the Internet

Types of public access networks and services provided

Role of the former National Public Telecomputing Network

Organization for Community Networks
(Attempting to continue the work of the NPTN)

Association for Community Networking

Concepts of community

National Center for Small Communities
and the National Association of  Towns and Townships

Societal trends giving rise to networking

Models of developing public access networks

Developing and marketing of Web pages

Organizing a community network

Basics of networking

The role of libraries and librarians in nonprofit computing

Educating librarians to become community leaders

The future of public access computing/networking
 
 
 

Please note that the following calendar is based on a Sunday [6:00-8:00 p.m.], schedule of chat forums.  Items identified as “Assignments/Readings” suggest that those things should be completed by that date and would either directly or indirectly be part of that forum discussion.

Parenthetically, when the Free-net movement began in the 1960’s, the concept of a “community” network related to a specific locale—Youngstown, Cleveland, etc.  The sense was that people were acting on their own behalf for the greater good.  It was, likewise, an alternative way of providing public access to online information instead of using a commercial vendor, as, e.g., Dialog.  Some of theseFree-nets were established as Internet Service Providers, because of the lack of ISPs, particularly in rural areas.  Today, the Internet has enabled “communities” of all types to be established.  So it is almost commonplace, e.g., to encounter groups of people comprising entities of all persuasions, bound together not by physical territory but subject interests.  For purposes of class activities,  therefore, “public access computing” and “community” networks, will relate both  to physical spaces as towns, cities, and virtual groups as represented by SeniorNet.   As examples of place oriented networks see, http://www.seorf.ohiou.edu/ [SoutEastern Ohio Regional Freenet]
 http://westphillydata.library.upenn.edu/ [West Philly Data]
or http://www.rtpnet.org/ [Research Triangle Park]
 

Coincidental with the movement identified above, libraries have become an enhanced resource for society in providing needed connectivity that is unavailable at business or home locations.
 
 

I. Assignments/Readings:

A. . Review the goals and objectives of the class

B. Each member of the class should provide a brief introduction of herself/himself using Blackboard.  Click on the "Student Tools" button on the course homepage, and then select the "Edit Your Homepage" option, and create a page of information that introduces you to the rest of the class.  Please include the following items:  "Where are you from/presently living?  "What work do you currently do?" "What are your interests in librarianship?" What are your other interests?" "What is your educational background?"

C. Once you have created your page, click on "Communication," and then "Roster."  Then click on the search button on the Roster page, but do not enter any information in the search bar.  A list of class members will be shown.  Click on your own name to review your page, and then on the names of your colleagues to find their homepages to learn about them.

D. Familiarize yourself, overall, with the use of Blackboard.  Help in the use of Blackboard, in addition to your instructor, is available by contacting   bbhelp@clarion.edu   The hours of service are M-H [1-6], F [1-5], and Sunday [3-9].

E. Review the Department of Library Science's Web page, its policies, etc.  Among other things, particularly examine the Toolkit link that is provided.
 

II. Forum Discussion:

A. Introductions, class objectives, assignments, etc.

B. Consider a basic model of a community network, using http://www.seorf.ohiou.edu/ as an example.

C. Begin reviewing the IMLS guidelines. For class purposes, grant proposals will be written using the "Research and Demonstration" category [2.4-2.5 in the guidelines].  Multiple "Priorities" will be assumed and include but not limited to "Projects that conduct research and/or demonstrations to enhance library services through the effective and efficient use of new and appropriate technologies; or ...  [2.5 guidelines]  The connection here, e.g., is that a community network will achieve the previously identified priority.  Other assumptions will be made for grant writing purposes:  (1. ) one will prepare a grant proposal for only one-year; (2.) the budget may be no larger than $250,000; and, (3.) an ISP (Internet Service Provider) will be hired to physically manage the community network.  The advantage to this is that it obviates the need to purchase and maintain all of the equipment necessary at the library site.

D. For your information, as a source of current discussion, COMMUNET-L is a mailing list for those interested in community networking. To subscribe, send email to listserv@list.uvm.edu, and place subscribe communet in the body of the message. Communet-L archives are available for perusing.  Other mailing lists and listservs may be found at http://databases.si.umich.edu/cfdocs/community/Discussiondisplay.cfm

No chat session.  Instructor is attending the mid-winter meeting of the American Library Association.

I. Assignments/Readings:

A.  For a quick overview of issues pertaining to community networking, read chapters 1-2 of Schuler's, " New Community Networks."

The next four items are from the Public Access to Computing Project, Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington.

B. "Public Access Computing Especially Important for Teens; Some Have Special Needs, Contribute Help."

C. "Library Patrons Heavily Use Public Access Computers & Other Library Services, and Want More."

D. "It's Working:  People from Low-Income Families Disproprtionately Use Library Computers."

E. "Support for Public Access Computing Widespread and Strong."

F. "Impact of Public Access Computing on Rural and Small Libraries."  This is a "PowerPoint" presentation that is available via our Blackboard course documents for LS 560.

G. Finish reviewing  the "2003National Leadership Grants for Libraries and Museums,"  In addition to IMLS as a source of funding, at the national level, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at http://www.ntia.doc.gov is a key federal agency for networking activities.  State agencies (e.g., in Pennsylvania )are also important sources of support and revenue.  For an indication of other  funding sources important to the freenet/community networking movement, see the Community Connector at http://databases.si.umich.edu/cfdocs/community/index.cfm

H. Read the papers of the Media in Transition Conference, held at MIT, in 1999.

II. Forum discussion:

A. Continue discussion of class objectives, assignments, evaluation, etc.

B. Discuss what "community" means today.

C. Continue reviewing the IMLS guidelines.

I. Assignments/Readings:

A. Neil Postman’s "Technopoly."

B. Submit your commentary (minimum of 300 words), and post this to the Discussion Board Forum on Blackboard.

C. Read the most recent articles at http://nytimes.com from the "Circuits, and "Columns" sections.  At the homepage, click on "Technology" at the left of the frame.
 

II. Forum discussion:

A. Is society, including the library world, suffering from too much technology?

B. Continue reviewing the IMLS guidelines.
 
 

I. Assignments/Readings:

A. Rheingold, "The Virtual Community."

B. Submit your commentary (minimum of 300 words), on the above, to the Discussion Board Forum on Blackboard.

C. Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation.  "Staying Connected:  A Toolkit to Build Support in the Community for your Technology Programs."Thoroughly review the chapters of this "Toolkit, as they are appropriate to developing your community site and grant proposal.

D. Read the most recent articles at http://nytimes.com from the "Circuits, and "Columns" sections.  At the homepage, click on "Technology" at the left of the frame.
 

II. Forum discussion:

A. Issues pertaining to Rheingold's views.

B. Continue reviewing the IMLS guidelines.

C. Planning for community technology.

---

February 23, 2003

I. Assignments/Readings:

A. "Standards Keep the Internet Working."  This is a "PowerPoint" presentation that is available via our Blackboard course documents for LS 560.

B. One will find a "Glossary of Internet Terms" at http://www.matisse.net/files/glossary.html

C. A very useful resource for an array of circumstances pertaining to community networking has been organized by the Benton Foundation at http://www.benton.org/Cyber/cp-freenets.html  .  Please review items of interest on this site.

D. Read the most recent articles at http://nytimes.com from the "Circuits, and "Columns" sections.  At the homepage, click on "Technology" at the left of the frame.

E. John R. Quain, "Tapping Into the Public Wireless Network, The New York Times, December 12, 2002.

F. The Hummelstown Community Network , is an example of a student project of several semesters ago.  Some of the are no longer active.

G. Please take a look at the "Policies" page of the SouthEastern Ohio Regional Freenet. It would be useful to include some similar informtion in your community network project.

H.  Report from the Pew Foundation, "The Ever Shifting Internet Population."
 

II. Forum discussion:

A.  How does the Internet function?

B. How does the Internet differ from the World Wide Web?

C. How are libraries different because of networked environments?

D. Is the development and growth of community information networks an indication that the library community has not done its job?

E. What is the significance of wireless networks?

No chat session.  Winter holiday.

I. Assignments/Readings:

A.  Thoroughly examine the Web site, Community Connector, at http://databases.si.umich.edu/cfdocs/community/index.cfm   For background information, read the issues of "Connections in Community Networking" at http://www.si.umich.edu/community/conections/archives/index.html  beginning 2/15/97-3/26/98.

B. Be prepared to discuss the article you found most interesting among those noted above.

C. Begin thinking about the design and content necessary to implement your community network.

D. Read the most recent articles at http://nytimes.com from the "Circuits, and "Columns" sections.  At the homepage, click on "Technology" at the left of the frame.
 

II. Forum discussion:

A. Discuss the above articles.

B. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of writing and submitting grant proposals.
 
 
 

. Assignments/Readings:

A.  For background information, read the issues of "Connections in Community Networking" at http://www.si.umich.edu/community/conections/archives/index.html  beginning with 6/7/98-12/21/98.

B. Be prepared to discuss the article you found most interesting among those noted above..

C.  Continue  thinking about the design and content necessary to implement your community network.

D. Read the most recent articles at http://nytimes.com from the "Circuits," and "Columns" sections.  At the homepage, click on "Technology" at the left of the frame.

E. "Basics of Grant Writing."  This is a "PowerPoint" presentation that is available via our Blackboard course documents for LS 560.

II.  Forum discussion:

A. Discuss the above articles.
 
 

I. Assignments/Readings:

A. For background information, read the issues of "Connections in Community Networking" at http://www.si.umich.edu/community/conections/archives/index.html beginning 2/23/99-11/23/99, including 7/20/2000.

B. Be prepared to discuss the article you found most interesting among those noted above.

 C.  Also (for background) read, “What Community Networks are all About’” at
http://www.tc.ca/allabout.html , “Community tworks,” http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/9/1/p1-227-e.html  , and “Can We Keep Community Networks Running?” http://www.ibiblio.org/cmc/mag/1995/jan/cisler.html .

D. Continue thinking about the design and content necessary to implement your community network.

E. Read the most recent articles at http://nytimes.com from the "Circuits,  and "Columns" sections.  At the homepage, click on "Technology" at the left of the frame.
 
 

II. Forum discussion:

A. Discuss the above articles.
 
 
 

I.  Assignments/Readings:

A. Examine the following community networks for format, content, ease of use, and management: http://www.scn.org/ , http://bcn.boulder.co.us/http://www.seflin.org , http://bafn.org , http://trfn.clpgh.org , http://www.showme.net/index.htm , and http://www.kcnet.org .

B. An extensive listing of freenets and community networks may be found at http://www.lights.com/freenet/ .

C. With the development of the Internet, a number of commercial resources attempt to offer the look and feel of communities: http://home.digitalcity.com , http://www.citysearch.com , http://geocities.yahoo.com .  See the Organdi Review [the contents of which your instructor is unfamiliar,] but as an example, launched from GeoCities.  You may also find "Now Playing:  Reality Without the Downside," to be of interest.

D. Read "10 Big Myths about Copyright Explained," at http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

E. Read the most recent articles at http://nytimes.com from the "Circuits," and "Columns" sections.  At the homepage, click on "Technology" at the left of the frame.
 
 

II. Forum discussion:

A. Review the networks, noted above.

B. Discuss techniques for designing and implementing Web pages.  For help on this, consider the site at http://www.clarion.edu/admin/compserv/howto.htm

C. An excellent source for a wide-variety of information pertaining to Web design, marketing, etc., may be found at http://www.bcentral.com/articles/workz/attract/home.asp

D. Other excellent resources for designing a Web page may be found at http://www.ash.udel.edu/ash/tutor/design/ and
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/tut/

I. Assignments/Readings:

A. Read the most recent articles at http://nytimes.com from the "Circuits," and "Columns" sections.  At the homepage, click on "Technology" at the left of the frame.

II. Forum discussion:

A. Continue discussing Web page design, marketing of sites, publishing, etc.

B. One's Web page may be published to the Clarion University "eagle" server or to some other location.
 
 

 Assignments/Readings:

A. While using earlier guidelines, one may find a sample grant proposal for stylistic purposes.  One may also find a sample of the budget used by IMLS.  For comparison, Pennsylvania provides a Keystone grant for library construction kinds of things, but the narrative is limited to two pages.  One may also find the Community Technology Center Grant Application available with Webcast.

B. Beyond the immediate needs of the class, one will find "Library Grant Money on the Web:  A Resource Primer" to be of particular value.

C.  Read the most recent articles at http://nytimes.com from the "Circuits, and "Columns" sections.  At the homepage, click on "Technology" at the left of the frame.
 
 

II. Forum discussion:

A. Review IMLS' evaluative criteria.

B. Discuss the physical aspects of organizing the proposal.

C. Consider the need for including the "assurances" with the grant proposal.

No chat.  Easter Sunday.

I. Assignments/Readings:

A. Lowe’s "Networking for Dummies (optional)."

B." The TechEncyclopedia" is an excellent source for terms, concepts, etc. at http://techweb.com/encyclopedia

C.  For a useful background of material pertaining to networking basics, LANs, topologies, etc., refer to "Networking Tutorials."

D. Black Box Network Services [the company] is a particularly useful site for both technical information as well as the hardware necessary for networking.  One may obtain copies of their catalogs from:  1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018.

E. "Report Offers Recommendations for Broadband Demand."

F. "Information Technology Use by Local Government in the Northeast:  Assessment and Needs."

II. Forum discussion:

A. While the proposal being sumbitted to IMLS does not establish the library as the physical site (ISP) for one's community network [unless you have chosen this option], your instructor thought that it would be interesting to discuss the basics of a local area network (LAN) typically found in a  library, and the equipment necessary to establish and maintain a community network.

B. For comparison, search for information in the TechEncyclopedia discussing wireless concepts of networking. network.
 
 
 

I. Assignments/Readings:

A. A physical copy of your grant proposal should be sent by postal mail so that it is received by your instructor no later than Monday, May 19, 2003  The mailing address is:  Department of Library Science, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, 840 Wood St., Clarion, Pa. 16214.

II. Forum discussion:

A. By this date, one should have submitted the address (URL) of one’s community network to the Discussion Board Forum on Blackboard.for review by the class.

B. Final comments about grant proposals and Web sites.

C. Consideration of future community networking.

D. Discussions will focus around those community Web sites prepared by members of the class.  During each chat forum, four different sites will be considered.  Students will be asked to comment on their respective sites with the remainder of the class adding their additional thoughts and suggestions.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

b