Going Local:Going Local:The Future of the InternetThe Future of the Internet Contributed by

Richard Truxall, The Library Network

Community Information Toolkit

www.mel.org/citoolkit Copyright © 1999,

Library of Michigan Foundation Re-use of these materials for non-profit training purposes is allowed without further permission, provided this notice is prominently displayed

Going Local:Going Local:The Future of the InternetThe Future of the Internet

Richard TruxallRichard TruxallThe Library NetworkThe Library Network

The Michigan Electronic LibraryThe Michigan Electronic Libraryrtruxall@tln.lib.mi.usrtruxall@tln.lib.mi.us

What We’ll Talk AboutWhat We’ll Talk About

Brief Overview of the InternetBackground on Community NetworksExamples of Current Online

CommunitiesWhere/How to start your projectDual Roles of an Info CreatorNext Steps to Take

Staggering Internet StatisticsStaggering Internet Statistics

1994 - Less than One Million Users1994 - Less than One Million Users 1998 - 50+ Million Internet users 1998 - 50+ Million Internet users 30 Million persons used the Internet 30 Million persons used the Internet

in the past 24 hoursin the past 24 hours**

1.5 Million Internet users in 1.5 Million Internet users in MichiganMichigan**

And Growing...And Growing...

* from Nielsen Media Research

The Need to be LocalThe Need to be Local

Global information is great,

but...

People care about their communities

Background on Community Background on Community Information SystemsInformation Systems

Computer based information systemsThe goal: bring local communities and

their information together Initiatives worldwide - around the

corner

The First Step: Free-NetsThe First Step: Free-NetsFreeNet’s - non-profit, volunteer

organizations– Early 1990’s

– First in Cleveland, Hartland (Illinois), Buffalo, then all over the country

– Information Services

– E-Mail / Communication Services

– Offering Free Dial-Up Access from home

Next Step: Community NetworksNext Step: Community NetworksEase of Internet access changed the

Free-Nets to Information Based Initiatives

Often sponsored or non-profit, but fee based organizations

Libraries = Access Points Information Equity is always key

The Importance of the The Importance of the Online CommunityOnline Community

Not everyone is 9-5Online Community Information is a

magnetUsers are local residents...stakeholders It’s their community after all!

(and yours)

Community Information OnlineCommunity Information Online

For an overview of the wide range of information being put online, see a list compiled by The Community Connector from the University of Michigan at:

http://www.si.umich.edu/Community/comminfo.html

Community Information OnlineCommunity Information Online

Local Government InformationCity of St. Paul, Minnesota

http://www.ci.stpaul.mn.us/Health and Human Services

Charlotte’s Web, North Carolina

http://www.charweb.org/health/healthindex.html

The Current State of The Current State of Community InformationCommunity Information

Community Networks tend to be lists– Services provided

– Contact information

– Event calendarsSeparate, isolated initiatives within

a community

Where to Start?Where to Start?

Key Questions:– What is your organization’s goal?

– How can your Web presence help that goal?

– What results/expectations do you have about your online information?

– Who is your audience?

As a Creator, You Have As a Creator, You Have (at least)(at least) Two Hats Two Hats

Think like an userThink like an insider

Thinking Like a UserThinking Like a User

Play with Web Sites, All Kinds of Web Sites, but…

Pay Attention!

To the contentTo the organization

Thinking Like a UserThinking Like a User

Did you find what you were looking for?

Did you get lost? Why? Why Not?What doesn’t work well? What does work well?

(This is the difficult question)

Sites to Explore and QuestionSites to Explore and Question

City of Eugene Oregonhttp://www.ci.eugene.or.us/

St. Paul Minnesotahttp://www.ci.stpaul.mn.us/

San Francisco Bay Area TransitInformation

http://www.transitinfo.org/

Sites to Explore and QuestionSites to Explore and Question

Port Macquire Historical Society and Museumhttp://www.midcoast.com.au/users/

pmmuseum/pmmuseum.htmlAntler River Historical Society

http://www.techplus.com/melita/arhs/home.htm

Sites to Explore and QuestionSites to Explore and Question

Greater Flint Arts Councilhttp://gfn1.genesee.freenet.org/gfac/

Howell High School

http://hps.k12.mi.us/~hhs/

As You Create your site… As You Create your site…

take time to take time to

Think Like a (New) UserThink Like a (New) User

Thinking Like an InsiderThinking Like an InsiderHow will your organization get info

online?Who is currently responsible for

publishing? Can you involve them?Who is ultimately responsible for online

content? (Who is the Project Manager?)

Organize your organization first!

No Vacuuming!No Vacuuming!

The Big Flaw: Working without othersCollaborate, collaborate, collaborate!Before, During and After...share with

your co-workers… get their opinions!Talk to the other online creators

around you

The Future of The Future of Community InformationCommunity Information

Content Integration– Create useful links to disparate

information and organizationsWhat is best for the user?Keeping in touch with each other is

the starting point...

The Next StepsThe Next StepsGet E-Mail!Talk to your organization membersGather Your Content (electronic if possible!)How will you layout your information

(begin by example)Begin to plan your ongoing maintenance...

Sites Worth VisitingSites Worth Visiting

The Michigan Electronic Library http://mel.lib.mi.us/

Genesee Free-Net, Genesee County, MI http://genesee.freenet.org/

La Plaza Telecommunity - Taos, NM http://www.laplaza.org/

Charlotte’s Web - Charlotte, NC http://www.charweb.org/

Sites Worth VisitingSites Worth Visiting

The American Memory Project http://www.loc.gov

Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network, Austin, TX http://www.main.org/

Three-Rivers Free-Net, Pittsburgh, PA

http://trfn.pgh.pa.us/