[WEB4LIB] "library" domain name (long)

[JTB]

I was interested in knowing that myself. Actually, it might make more sense 
to have "library" be a sub-domain (except for public libraries) of whatever 
organization it might be a part of, i.e., library.internic.net or 
library.microsoft.com, etc. Public libraries frequently have a sub-domain 
of their local government, or are named under the generic "town.state.us" 
rubric (as per your email domain name, city.windsor.on.ca); see, e.g. 
http://www.nic.us/ to apply for one of these domains.

Anyway, as another web4lib correspondent did, I did a little research at 
the ICANN website to see what is involved in getting a new TLD (top level 
domain): http://www.icann.org For the first thing, you will need $50k to 
get ICANN to even look at the idea. That is the application fee to get them 
to consider a new TLD. Next, you have a very narrow window of opportunity, 
as the applications must be in very soon. Lastly, your proposal for the new 
TLD must show how you plan to technically manage the maintenance of the 
name servers required. In other words, ICANN's response to the idea of new 
TLD's is: "don't bother us..." because few entities will spend $50k+ for 
something they won't be able to make any money on (except companies 
interested in selling the new domain names, a la Network Solutions 
http://www.networksolutions.com/ , et al.) On the other hand, I can also 
see why they (ICANN) wouldn't want to pay for it themselves.

Want to have some input at ICANN? Notice at the ICANN website that the time 
period for joining the at-large membership of ICANN has expired. What 
public-spirited organization has a dead-line as to whether or not you can 
join? Does National Geographic have a deadline for joining? Does the 
Internet Society have a membership deadline: 
http://www.isoc.org/isoc/membership/ ? Some unkind souls have suggested 
that ICANN became terrified at the prospect of being overrun by a 
democratically elected membership, instead of a being run by a bunch of 
suits representing big $$ domain registration companies and dot coms, and 
ended the at-large registration process: 
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/op/xml/00/07/24/000724oplivingston.xml . 
Some don't think ICANN is supportive of the at large membership: 
http://www.applyatlarge.com/ . Others have suggested that they were swamped 
by the number of applications and will reopen the membership process again 
later.
Still interested? Here are the application instructions: 
http://www.icann.org/tlds/new-tld-application-instructions-15aug00.htm


At 11:38 AM 08/22/2000 -0700, you wrote:
>Is anyone taking the initiative on behalf of libraries to create a "library"
>suffix?
>
>  <<Internet Body Accepting Proposals for Domain Name Alternatives.htm>>
>
>http://www.windsorpublic.library
>
>Donna Marentette
>Windsor Public Library
>dmarentette at city.windsor.on.ca

John D. Moore
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Library
202.312.5503
fax 202.786.7015