Background of the Kellogg Community Networking Initiative
The Kellogg Community Networking Initiative not only receives funds from the Kellogg CRISTAL-ED Project but is supported by the Apple Library of Tomorrow (ALOT) Program, U.S. Department of Education Title II-B Community Networking Fellowships, and several other organizations. Joan Durrance, SI faculty, is this initiative's director. The entire initiative has the following components:
The purpose of CNP-SI is to foster the development of community networks, increase the quality of emerging community networks, apply information technologies to community networks, foster research on such networks, create a "living laboratory" which will inform the education of information professionals in the 21st century, and disseminate information and knowledge about the potential of community networks. One key task of this component has been to maintain one of the most complete World-Wide Web presentations on community networking.
Through the CN Coursework component, students gain valuable experience building community information networks. Students enrolled in this year's course participated in the development of the Kellogg/Apple Library of Tomorrow Community Networking Initiative in Flint, Michigan, and the Huron Valley Community Network in Ann Arbor, Michigan. These two networks recommended four to five agencies with which students worked. They performed needs assessments for agencies and worked with them and the community network to present themselves through the World-Wide Web.
The objectives of the Flint Project are to:
- Create an information infrastructure which will foster a viable community networks built on emerging information technologies.
- Prepare librarians for viable, leadership roles in community networks.
- Develop a community networking culture.
- Develop a sustainable approach to information delivery that is supported by the strengths of the public library (free to all, a public forum, provision of a wide variety of resources).
- Change the way public libraries and the professionals who practice in them provide information to their communities and think about their practice.
In addition to ensuring that the network's information infrastructure was in place, Flint Project staff made progress this year toward preparing the Flint Networking lab ready for training practitioners and the general public. Over four dozen librarians have been trained in Internet use (e.g., electronic mail, World-Wide Web, collection searching). About three quarters have received an introduction to HTML. Flint Project staff selected about a third of trained librarians to participate in a "Train the Trainer" seminar. The result is a trained group of mentors who will train other staff. In fact, trained staff trained a dozen volunteers who will serve as trainers for the general public.
The availability of the Flint Networking lab enables Flint Public Library (FPL) staff to answer reference questions on a wide variety of topics. For example, the government shutdown made it difficult for the public to obtain many printed tax forms and government information generally. FPL staff assisted patrons in using the Internet where they could find needed information.
Librarians, students, and volunteers are building the Flint Community Information Network using the World Wide Web. Much content to date has been created by FPL librarians. While librarians are engaged in planning the enhancement of FPL's web presentation, they are working with several organizations that would provide content and resources for the network such as not-for-profit agencies (e.g., Greater Flint Arts Council, Community Capital Development Corporation, Flint Area Medical Educators, and local government agencies (e.g., Genesee County Health Department).
The goal of a community network must be achieved through the collaborative efforts of organizations throughout the community. To facilitate these efforts, the project is convening the Greater Flint Community Networking Summit to encourage sharing of information amongst organizations, foster collaboration in the building of the community network, educate area citizens about technological issues, and encourage citizens to get involved in their communities.
