US/ND-1: my initial two cents

my initial two cents

George H. Brett II (ghb@sherman.boulder.lib.co.us)
Wed, 28 Aug 1996 08:32:49 -0600 

Hullo Folks,
I'll start off with a thanks to Link for that closing statement and borrow
it for my beginning: "I look forward to the continuing discussion here and
will try to inject a smile or two with the written word to temper my soap
box verbiage as I would do in person."

Now up on the soap box with a couple quick points:

1) Let's focus on the issues at hand... what is being offered by the feds,
what is universal services, what is meant by subsidized access. Let's not
spend our time re-hashing the issue of training-support-"do they know how
to use it?" That is not to say those are not important. It is to say that
I'm not interested in that discussion in this forum.

2) I'd not sure of who the players are in this particular game. I hope to
learn more clearly as this month goes on.

But, I will echo an underlying theme I am reading already -- the
definitions of "community," "education," and "library" are pretty varied --
or at least I know that they vary depending on who you speak with
government, commercial, or the many different entities involved with
education (K12, Higher Ed, Continuing Ed, Remedial Services for Industry).

I know that it would be helpful if this seminar were to build a glossary
that would better define these terms, concepts, and issues. What say you
all?

3) Introduction of me..... well, much of my experiences are posted on the
web at:
  http://sherman.boulder.lib.co.us:8001/~ghb
You can find a resume, outlines and presentations going back to 1994, check
out some of my ideas in the "works in progress." One thing you may not
realize is that I've been working with education and libraries for a long
time.

My great-grandfather was the Cleveland Public Librarian at the turn of this
century. He did a couple things that I admire greatly: He opened the stacks
to the library patrons (direct access to resources). He began Saturday
story hours for children (services for marginal communities). He was one of
the founding persons of the recently defunct Case Western Library School
(professional development). Personally I feel that these issues continue to
be important. I hope that I can help impact positively on the digital
future in a way similar to William H. Brett.

Thanks for your time --
	-- I look forward to more discussions (some heated, no doubt)

	George

  George H. Brett II
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