NREN | Page 3

assume
the role of parents or the functions of parental authority in the private
relationship between parent and child. Librarians and governing bodies
have a public and professional obligation to provide equal access to all
library resources for all library users."
6. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to
the public they serve should make such facilities available on an
equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or
groups requesting their use."
The Internet provides the equivalent of electronic meeting rooms and
virtual exhibit spaces. Public libraries will offer access to all comers,
regardless of their status.
Further, as part of the Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, this
statement appears: "The U.S. Supreme Court has recognized that `the
right to receive ideas follows ineluctably from the sender's First
Amendment right to send them. . . . More importantly, the right to

receive ideas is a necessary predicate to the recipient's meaningful
exercise of his own rights such as speech, press, and political freedom'
Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District No. 26 v.
Pico, 457 U.S. 853, 866-67 (1982) (plurality opinion)."
Clearly, reception and sending of ideas is a First Amendment issue.
Oral, written, and electronic speech must be equally protected so that
democracy may flourish.
Public libraries also provide "free" services, though in fact the costs are
just deferred. Taxes, state aid derived from taxes, federal aid derived
from taxes, and private funds all pay for the "free" services at public
libraries. Public libraries may be thought of as Information
Management Organizations (IMO's), similar to Health Management
Organizations, where patrons/patients contribute before they need
information/health care, so that when they do need it, librarians/doctors
are available to render aid.
Why NREN in the Public Library is a bad idea
On the surface, the public library looks like an excellent place to drop
Internet/NREN connectivity. Libraries are veritable temples of learning,
intellectual freedom, and confidentiality.
However, most public libraries lack what computer experts call
infrastructure. If there are computers, they may be out of date. Staff
may not have had time to learn to operate them, and the computers may
literally be collecting dust.
There may be no modems, no phone line to share, no staff with time to
learn about the Internet and its many resources. Money to update
equipment, hire staff, and buy training is out of the question. Public
libraries face slashed budgets, staff layoffs, reduced hours, and
cutbacks in services.
Many of these drawbacks are noted in the recent study by Dr. Charles
R. McClure, called Public Libraries and the Internet/NREN: New
Challenges, New Opportunities.

Public librarians were surveyed about their attitudes toward NREN in
interviews and focus groups. According to the study, public librarians
thought that the public had a "right" to the Internet, and its availability
in their libraries would provide a safety net for the electronic-poor.
On the other hand they felt that they could not commit resources to this
initiative until they knew better what the costs were and the benefits
might be. They longed for someone else to create a pilot project to
demonstrate the Internet's usefulness, or lack thereof, for public library
users.
The study describes several scenarios for public libraries as the NREN
evolves. Some may simply choose to ignore the sweeping technological
changes in information transfer. They may continue to exist by
purveying high-demand items and traditional services, but they may
find it increasingly difficult to maintain funding levels as the rest of the
world looks elsewhere for their information and reference needs. The
public library may find itself servicing only the information
disenfranchised, while the rest of the community finds, and pays for,
other solutions.
As the study explains:
"While embracing and exploiting networked information and services,
[successfully transitioned libraries] also maintain high visibility and
high demand traditional services. But resources will be reallocated
from collections and less-visible services to support their involvement
in the network. All services will be more client-centered and
demand-based, and the library will consciously seek opportunities to
deliver new types of information resources and services electronically."
"In this scenario, the public library will develop and mount services
over the NREN, provide for public access to the NREN, and will
compete successfully against other information providers. In its
networked role, the library can serve as a central point of contact as an
electronic navigator and intermediary in linking individuals to
electronic information resources- regardless of type or physical location.
The public library in this second scenario will define a future for itself

in the NREN and develop a strategic plan to insure its successful
participation as an information provider in the networked
environment."
What Should Happen
Senator Gore has proposed what has been variously called Son of
NREN or Gore II, which should help address many