Bottom Line on Electronic Libraries -Reply

[C. W. Tazewell]

Hi yawwl,
     When "everybody" has access to the www it will be like
seating the typical user in a real space ship and saying,
"Take me to Mars!"  The typical users won't be a web surfers
- no way!
     The Internet Appliance will be available soon - a large
screen combination digital TV, VCR and WWW gadget.  The users
will sit on their couches and use a TV remote.  They will have
a wireless keyboard for occasional use.  Some type of "mouse"
action will be included in the TV remote.
     Libraries and librarians will be very important.  There will
be basic changes in the nature of services, however.  As time
goes by the present public library will slowly become more of a
community center with a reading room and reference desk.
     There is something missing in most librarian's and layman's
thinking.  How will the complexity of the WWW be matched with the
naivity of the user?
     The answer is the metropolitan/regional/community digital
library.  The world of info must be organized and indexed so that
Jack and Jill and Little Joey can sit on their couch and click
away with their TV remote.
     The Internet must be adapted to the unsophisticated user.
Don't even consider training everybody to be web-fluent.  For
the general public it must be made very, very simple.  That is
the challenge!
     Web surfing is for the professional librarian/information
specialist and the dedicated Web Surfing Hobbiest.
     Perhaps you will be interested in more about the "missing
link" in the plans for the future of the WWW and Internet.
     Check http://www.infi.net/~cwt/inet2000.html
     It's time you set up your local community/area/regional/
metropolitan digital library - for Jack and Jill AND Little
Joey.
     Here is a sobering note: I know of many, many people
that have had an Internet account for months and even years
that have never progressed beyond email knowledge.  These
include many sophisticated professionals.  The web is too much
for them.  Many are embarrassed to mention their situation.
     A local middle school has almost 300 computers connected
to the Internet with fiber-optic cable.  They have about a
thousand students and seven dozen teachers.   Without a
local central digital library/k-12 media center they will be
wasting much of their time!  All those kids will never become
web surfers - and few of the teachers.  It has gotta be as
easy as clicking on channel 3!
     The 21st century will usher in the Information Age.  The
key and underlying factor to financial success will be
information.  The Internet is the focal point of information.
Central digital regional/metropolitan/community libraries are 
essential for progress and profit in the future.   
     Check the letter to editor: "Puzzle to Muddle - or
Constructive Action" at The Internet in 2000 (link, above).
The local newspaper didn't think it worth publishing.  (Well,
it won't be too long before they stop publishing in their
present manner.)
     The Internet is a cultural change greater than the
Industrial Revolution.
     Sm:)es,
               Bill.     
    -----------------------------------------------------------
             "One of the best web sites in cyberworld"

                 The Hampton Roads Central Library
             (You don't drive to it; you point to it.)
                Your *REASON* to have the Internet
Front Entrance                E A S Y   L I N K S - Your WWW Hotlist
http://www.infi.net/~cwt/     http://www.infi.net/~cwt/easylink.html

On Sat, 28 Sep 1996, Diane Nahl wrote:

> The practical question "Is it better to have Web access without help than
> to have no Web access at all?" presents a false dichotomy. This is what
> our ITS director said to the faculty after implementing universal access
> for all students in our system, rendering it impossible for faculty to go
> online, but I digress. 
> 
> To me, the issue is even more practical: since we must have Web access for
> everyone, how can we provide the help, assistance, instruction, training
> that we know is sorely needed to really utilize this technology within our
> current constraints? If we ask this question we are more open to unusual
> alternatives than if we assume that there is no way we can assist novice
> Web users when they need it. I am in favor of training student assistants
> for this purpose, but others may not be. Still, there are creative
> solutions available if we are open to new possibilities.
> 
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