ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 68/C&RL News African studies computer resources By Patricia S. Kuntz Internet and beyond: African linkages T he “information highway” is very busy among Africanists around the world. Schol­ ars based in Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe with colleagues in the Americas, Europe, and Asia have coordinated conferences, written research papers, and shared ideas on technology using one or more o f the four computer network services. This essay focuses on African studies com­ puter resources available in the U.S. with link­ ages to Africa. Four fundamental computer sys­ tems exist: Intemet/Bitnet, Fidonet, UseNet, and BBS (dial-up bulletin board services). An up­ dated list o f these network services is available from Arthur McGee.1 For a complete list o f files, contact: Internet-.< am cgee@ netcom .com > BDPA BAC: [1-707- 552-3314] to [Arthur McGee]; Data Bits Online: [1-213-295-6094] to [Arthur M cG ee]; CompuServe: [72377,1351]; Voice: [1-310-320- BYTE] AFRIMAIL.MSG = Intemet/Bitnet Mailing Lists AFRISITE.MSG = Online Information Sites AFRINEWS.MSG = UseNet Newsgroups BLACKBBS.MSG = BBS List To demonstrate the wide variety of network services available to Africanists, only a few ex­ amples will be mentioned in each category. Nevertheless, the field o f information technol­ ogy via computers is exploding even in Afri­ can countries with limited resources and con­ flicting political and social policies. Internet/Bitnet The most common network systems through­ out the world are Internet and Bitnet. Internet is growing in popularity with the various com­ patible networks such as NetNorth (Canada), Janet (United Kingdom), and EARN (Europe). Nearly all U.S. universities and most colleges purchase a connection to the Internet. This em­ ployment benefit enables faculty, staff, and stu­ dents access to File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Telnet, and UseNet. In contrast, Bitnet’s main feature is the automatic conversation lists called “Listserv.” One should not confuse the new software “Listserver” which is comparable for the Internet. Electronic Mail Both Intemet/Bitnet networks provide electron­ ic mail (e-mail) for sending public and private messages. Messages from one network system are tracked through gateways to other systems. Consequently, readers having only an Internet or Bitnet address can still send and receive messages to the other network. In fact, gate­ ways also facilitate the use of Fidonet and UUCP technology. For example, e-mail contacts to Africanists and inquiries concerning African studies can be made through the following organizations: • African Studies Association (A S A ): . One o f the oldest area studies associations o f academics with over 3,000 members. • American Association for the Advance­ ment of Science/African Academy o f Science (AAAS): . A joint U.S. and African association for the promotion o f scientific research and technology. Patricia S. Kuntz is outreached director o f the African Studies Program at the University o f Wisconsin-Madison; bitnet: ‹k u n tz @w iscm acc›; Internet: mailto:amcgee@netcom.com mailto:africa@emoryul.cc.emory.edu mailto:afraaas@gwuvm.gwu.edu February 1994/69 • Association o f African Studies Programs (AASP): ‹N A ›. An association o f colleges and universities which offer a collection of courses concerning African content. This organization sponsors the summer language programs. • Washington Office on Africa (W O A): . This office lobbies the U.S. Congress concerning issues o f Africanists, Afri­ cans, and African-related issues. As a result o f the National Defense Educa­ tion Act (1958), the U.S. Department of Educa­ tion funds the following universities to teach courses, conduct research, and disseminate in­ formation about Africa throughout their respec­ tive regions. Below is a list of the current grad­ uate and undergraduate centers for African studies (NDEA/HEA Title VI African Studies Centers): • Boston University: not available • Univ. o f California-Berkeley: • Univ. of Califomia-Los Angeles: ‹ ? ©others. sscnet.ucla.edu> • Cornell University: not available • Univ. o f Florida: • Indiana University: • Michigan State University: • Stanford University: • Univ. o f Wisconsin: for inclusion on the mail­ ing list. The following list o f lists is a sample o f sev­ eral African-related public distribution newsgroups. Some of the groups are open to the public while others are designed for Afri­ cans of a particular nationality or persuasion. If not specifically indicated, assume that they of­ fer public access. Since not all list owners fol­ low a specific subscription convention, one may need to write the board directly to obtain di­ rections for subscription procedures. • AAJN@catcc.bitnet. Discussion concern­ ing Burkina Faso or those who worked in there. • AFRIQNEWS@athena.mit.edu. African news service from various wire services and information concerning the Boston-area Africanists. • A LG E R IA-N ET@ m onte.svec.uh.edu. Subscribe: . • AMAZIGHT-NET@engcd.bu.edu. Persons interested in Berbers and North Africa with messages accepted in English, French, and Tamazight. Subscribe: . • ARABIC-L@byu.edu. A monitored service for members and friends of the American Asso­ ciation of Teachers o f Arabic (AATA). Discus­ sion focuses on linguistic and pedagogical is­ sues o f Arabic. • ASA-NET@sfu.ca. A Canadian service for African students EGYPT-NET@das.harvard.edu. Egyptian students and friends. Subscribe: . mailto:woa@igc.apc.org mailto:winchest@indiana.edu mailto:sbams@mail.sas.upenn.edu mailto:21248yf@msu.edu mailto:AFRIQNEWS@athena.mit.edu mailto:ALGERIA-NET@monte.svec.uh.edu mailto:AMAZIGHT-NET@engcd.bu.edu mailto:ARABIC-L@byu.edu mailto:ASA-NET@sfu.ca mailto:EGYPT-NET@das.harvard.edu February 1994/71 A Better Way To Search Databases We started in 1985, database searchers software. But a better way means meeting committed to better search software the evolving needs - individual and campus design. We became the premier vendor of wide - of today’s library users. M e d lin e , then exp an de d o ur catalog to other databases. Last year we won nnouncing O V ID : a database interface Inform ation W orld Review’s P R O D U C T Aso flexible it molds itself to your search O F T H E Y E A R for faster, easier search environment. W ith O V ID you’re free to move A haven f o r beginners, O V ID ’s Search with natural language fro m one operating system Easy M ode has on screen i f y ou like. O V ID mapping to another without retraining. prompts. The more experienced cuts through the mystery o f O V ID ’s Common User can pull-down menus showing controlled vocabularies, homing Interface assures identical an array o f search options. in on precisely matching functionality in DOS, Experts w ill fe e l at home subject headings. Windows and U N IX . using online syntax. There’s an unprecedented array o f H E L P f o r every search function search tools - indexes, thesauri, is context-sensitive and on limits and fields - many never before screen, never more than a key­ available in an interface. They’re all stroke or mouse click away. standard O V ID features. OVID. A better way to search ERIC, Current Contents®, PsycINFO®, Medline, Readers’ Guide Abstracts, EMBASE and more. CD PLUS Technologies N e w Y o r k 800-950-2035/2 12-563-3006 L o n d o n 44-(0 )81-748 -3777 Am sterdam 20-672-0242 72/C&RL News service (WAIS). In addition to providing e-mail addresses, course lists, weekly announcements, and faculty addresses, this connection accesses computerized library catalog systems around the world. The University of Pennsylvania, African Stud­ ies Consortium, has created an African studies gopher board. Readers can obtain connection through various gateways: Gopher client - < goph er.u pen n .edu > or FTP site < FTP.u penn.edu > or T eln et - < open penninfo.upenn.edu>.4 To access the African Studies database follow these directions: “Pennlnfo," “Interdisciplinary Studies,” “African Studies.” Fidonet Fidonet is an international, decentralized, co­ operative, voluntary system in which partici­ pants serve one another by relaying messages through a routing system. A list of all Fidonet nodes is updated weekly from a central point (node 1:1/0) and is distributed throughout the network. Since this network has no central computers, Fidonet is organized in a branch­ ing system with six geographically designated zones: 1 = USA/Canada/Mexico - North America 2 = Europe 3 = Australia, New Zealand (Oceana) 4 = Latin America 5 = Africa 6 = Asia Individuals establish Fidonet nodes using only personal computers, international speed- modems, and free software. Consequently, this process permits access to rural areas. Gate­ ways or links have reduced the cost o f trans­ mission. Echomail Echomail is a specific public forum, conference group, or newsgroup. It is one of the options (having various labels) at the top menu which allows subscribers to select groups. Currently, there are four Echomail conferences of interest to Africanists: • Africa Link— Bob Barad (Baobab BBS) links all African-related BBS which have Fidonet connectivity and choose to collaborate. • Peace Corps— Returning Peace Corps vol­ unteers who wish to maintain contact with volunteers in their cohort group, service area, or country assignment. • South Africa— Discussion o f the political, economic, social situation in South Africa in­ cluding the Apartheid philosophy, the “transi­ tional government,” and constitutional revisions. • Southern Africa Drought— The agricultur­ al and environmental situation in eight south­ ern African countries. UseNet UseNet is a third worldwide network that pro­ vides one main service— news. UseNet newsgroups are largely unavailable to Bitnet sites. While many o f Usenet’s sites are com­ mercial, advertising is strictly forbidden on the network. Although some 3,000 newsgroups are available, not all sites carry all newsgroups. Since no files are associated with this service and messages are automatically deleted on a regular basis, UseNet provides no archiving feature characteristic of the Bitnet listserv. To create a newsgroup on UseNet, any user must secure a minimum of 100 yes votes for the news group topic. Once a news group is approved, it is difficult to remove it from the network. African-related UseNet news groups are: rec.music.afro-latin rec.travel soc.culture.egyptian (proposed) soc.culture.southafrica (proposed) soc.culture.arabic soc.culture.african soc.culture.maghreb soc.religion.islam talk.politics.mideast Bulletin board system The bulletin board system (BBS) connects per­ sonal computers directly through a telephone connection. Since these boards cost the user a telephone call, unlike the academic networks (Internet/Bitnet), a long distance log-in can be expensive. Presently, few BBSs exist for strictly Afri­ can-related content. Two members o f the Afri­ can Studies Association have promoted the use of electronic communications in Africa and the Americas. African Studies (1989) Patricia Kuntz (608) 262-9689, 8N1 1200-14,400 modem; Fidonet connections:1:121/25.3 and 1:109/151.42-,Inter­ net connecrtions:@p3.f25nl21.zl.fidonet.org Baobab (1989) Bob Barad (202) 296-9790 8N1 1200-14,400 modem; Fidonet connections: 1:109/151; Internet connections:@f15 1 .n109. zl.fidonet.org ftp://FTP.upenn.edu February 1994 / 73 African linkages For readers seeking contacts in Africa, over 30 African countries have various network con­ nections. These connections include Bitnet, Internet, Fidonet, OSI, UUCP. Larry Landweber (University o f Wisconsin), co-founder o f the In­ ternet Society, provides a bi-annual update of the five network options for each African coun­ try among others. This information is available through the Internet Society: Internet: or on “gopher” - (Washington, DC) Internet Society FTP . In addition to Landweber’s list, Karanja Gakio and Randy Bush can assist with connections. Conclusion The four computer networks described above along with the African connectivity informa­ tion are fundamental tools for administrators, faculty, students, librarians, and outreach per­ sonnel interested in Africa. Proficiency in com­ puter technology and networks is essential for readers involved in research, teaching, admin­ istration, and extension. Notes 1Ken O n w ere maintains the A froN et or . 2News release dated September 3, 1992. In the United States contact CompuServe directly. In South Africa call (012) 841-2530 or southern Africa at (+27) (12) 841-2530. 3NewsNet: For the Business Information Edge contact: Kelly Bahel, NewsNet, Account Rep., 945 Haverford Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010; (215) 527-8030 or (800) 952-0122. 4Sysop is Julie Sisskind % Sandra Barnes, Anthropology: sisśkind®mail.sas.upenn.edu. 5Connectivity with Africa: URL:gopher:// gopher.psg.coni:70/0/0/networks/connect/ africa.txt; subject: pub. gopher-data/networks/connect/africa.txt ■ Compile a subject list of Internet resources C&RL News would like to print brief sub­ ject lists o f Internet resources such as the one prepared by Jeffrey A. Coon on reli­ gious studies that appeared on page 635 of the December 1993 issue. If you are inter­ ested in preparing a brief list in your area o f expertise contact: Mary Ellen Davis, Edi­ tor & Publisher, C&RL News, 50 E. Huron St., C hicago, IL 6 0 6 ll or e-m ail: U38398@uicvm.uic.edu. mailto:isoc@isoc.org mailto:gakio@ftp.com mailto:renaud@ostom.fr mailto:server@gopher.psg.com mailto:U38398@uicvm.uic.edu 74 / C&RL News