ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 400 Rural datafication: Conference Access to the Internet Circuit By D o n Lanier The challenge o f universal connectivity I nternet connectivity and widespread elec­tronic access to information resources are arguably the most significant developments in libraries in the last decade. As is often the case with significant technological advances, Inter­ net connectivity has bypassed some potential user groups, perhaps groups which could ben­ efit most. The Rural Datafication: Achieving the Goal o f Ubiquitous Access to the Internet conference was held at the McCormick Place Hotel in Chi­ cago on May 13– 14, 1993. Cosponsoring orga­ nizations o f the Rural Datafication conference included CICNet, netILLINOIS, INDNet, IREN, MichNet, MRNet, NYSERNet, PREPNet, WiscNet, and WVNET. Acknow ledging the success o f connectivity for academic and research institu­ tions, the conference sponsors directed their attention to the challenge o f “providing similar access to the rural areas and underserved com­ munities where expertise and m oney are often in short supply.” The conference began on Thursday after­ noon with “hosted discussions” for several in­ terest groups; K-12, higher education, librar­ ies, health care and education, agriculture, and community/government. Follow ing a confer­ ence reception, a second Thursday session con­ sisted o f presentations about projects which “provided networked information and services to information-poor communities.” The projects described varied widely in location and targeted community and included “FreeNET British Co­ lumbia” (Roger Hart), “SENDIT” (Dan Pullen), “ B ig Sky T e le g r a p h ” (F ra n k O d a s z ), “PennPages” (Art Hussey), “NN/ML Community Hospital Libraries” (Sherilynne Fuller), and the “Sustainable D evelopm ent Information N et­ w ork” (Miles Fidelman). Presentations on Friday morning included “W hen Worlds Collaborate, I” (Ross Stapleton), “Proselytizing the Net” (Simona Nass), “When Worlds Collide, II” (Anthony Riddle), “Network­ ing the Nations … American Indians/Alaskan Natives” (G eorge Baldwin), and “ … Play and Exploration in Cyberspace” (Rick Gates). Fol­ lowing lunch, a panel o f facilitators for the hosted interest groups which met on Thursday after­ noon reported the “thoughts, visions, and concerns” identified by the individual groups. The titles for the projects described and the papers delivered are somewhat self-explana tory. Ross Stapleton’s presentation was espe­ cially interesting because o f his perspective as a C IA e m p lo y e e . H e p o in te d ou t that “underserved communities” applies to several U.S. government agencies and to many national governments. He characterized the information scene as one in which toll roads are being re­ placed by public highways and one in which national boundaries are disappearing, saying the potential for public and private diplomacy on the Net should not be lost. Religious imag­ ery was abundant among the speakers and both Simona Nass and Anthony Riddle proved to be able evangelists for the Net. Simona focused on getting all segments o f society involved in policy issues and Anthony emphasized reach­ ing and in volvin g community groups. Rick Gates ( o f Internet Hunt fam e) admitted to be­ ing a novice presenter as he proceeded to out­ line the developm ent o f the Net. He sees the present stage o f development as one in which the Net is community or user oriented. Interesting observations and concerns from the conference included: (continued on page 405) Don Lanier is health science librarian and associate professor at the University o f Illinois at Chicago, Library o f the Health Sciences, Rockford; e-mail U17113@uicvm.uic.edu mailto:U17113@uicvm.uic.edu 405 lished at GPO— free o f charge through deposi­ tory libraries, and at the incremental cost o f dissemination to others. Rep. Gerald Kleczka (D-W is.), w h o m oved S. 564, said the bill: 1) provides for online access to the Con­ gressional Record, the Federal Register, and other publications distributed by the Superin­ tendent o f Documents; 2) provides for the establishment o f an elec­ tronic directory o f federal public information stored electronically; 3) provides for an electronic storage facility; 4) requires the Superintendent o f Documents to distribute agency electronic information at the request o f the issuing agency; 5) requires that fees for access to the direc­ tory and the system, including information stored in the electronic storage facility, are to approximate the incremental cost o f dissemi­ nation o f the information. The one exception is that depository libraries w ill be able to ac­ cess the directory, and system provided for in the bill, including the information stored in the electronic storage facility, free o f charge; 6) requires the Public Printer to report the directory, the system o f access, and the elec­ tronic storage facility not later than December 31 o f each odd numbered year. The report is to include an analysis o f cost savings in comparison with traditional forms o f information distribution. N o increase in funding was authorized in the bill. GPO is to implement the system o f access, the electronic directory, and the electronic storage fa­ cility within its current budget. ■ on (D a ta fica tion cont. f r o m page 400) • Access and communication may be dis­ criminatory if only Internet technology is utilized. • Authentication o f information/data is more o f a problem with the Net than with printed materials. • Government agencies in particular need “W elcom e Centers” to provide immediate in­ formation/documentation for a plethora o f pub­ lic needs which could be facilitated by the In­ ternet. • There are real barriers to ubiquitous ac­ cess, particularly for the over 50% o f public libraries that serve populations o f under 10,000. During the conference references to vari­ ous Internet resources and lists abounded. Reg­ istration packets included printed information from many o f the presenters and a listing o f all attendees with e-mail addresses for easy follow-up. In addition to network personnel, the con feren ce w as w e ll attended by systems people and librarians, with several entrepre­ neurs in evidence. It was very rewarding to see several Internet luminaries in attendance and to realize that these folks continue to share their vision and expertise on the Net without regard for financial profit. From the perspective o f this reporter, the rural datafication conference was an unquali­ fied success. O f course, persons with a rural background like myself may have to change our understanding to accommodate the inclu­ sion o f any underserved community as a p o ­ tential audience. In closing the meeting, Michael Staman, president o f CICNet said that the con­ ference proceedings w ould be published and that another rural datafication conference would be held next year. ■