Networked Services Policy Taskgroup publishes Charging and Networked
Services issue paper
Public libraries today face difficult policy decisions when thinking
about the provision of access to the Internet for their readers.
Questions arise on issues such as: do we provide Internet access for
free; should we charge; should we use filtering
software; what is the
length of time people can use an Internet terminal for; what type of
extra services should be provided?
To help librarians answer these difficult issues, a series of papers
is being produced by EARL, UKOLN and the Library Association through
the Networked Services Policy Taskgroup. The third paper in the
series has just been published and looks at the issues involved with
charging and networked services. It highlights why charging for
networked services is a policy issue, examines the current policy
context in which charging is taking place and details some of the
issues in the fee versus free debate. The paper also suggests a
policy framework to help library authorities shape their local
charging policy. The paper is called 'Charging and Networked
Services' and has been written by Ian Everall, Walsall Library
Services and Sarah Ormes, UKOLN.
Six printed copies of this paper have been sent to each UK public
library authority and an electronic version can be found on the
taskgroup's website at
http://www.earl.org.uk/taskgroups/policy/index.htm
The taskgroup's website also hosts a growing library of policy
documents that have already been developed by some public library
authorities. Further contributions are positively encouraged from
all library authorities happy to place such material in the public
domain. Such documents represent an important resource to the wider
public library community to help inform local policy development on
networking issues, by encouraging debate, helping to disseminate
good practice and avoiding reinventing the wheel. If you are able to
assist please contact David Potts, the taskgroup's webmanager -
e-mail:
[log in to unmask]
For further information about the issue papers, please contact Sarah
Ormes, the series editor, at UKOLN on 01225 826711. Email:
[log in to unmask]
ENDS
Notes to Editors
UKOLN is a national centre for support in network information
management in the library and information communities. It provides
awareness, research and information services. UKOLN is funded by the
Library and Information Commission, the Joint Information Systems
Committee (JISC) of the Higher Education Funding Councils, as well
as by project funding from the JISC and the European Union. UKOLN
also receives support from the University of Bath where it is based.
More information about UKOLN can be found at http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/
EARL, the Consortium for Public Library Networking, was established
in 1995 to develop the role of public libraries in providing library
and information services over the network. It now has 164 partners
in local
authorities, associate partners in government, the library
profession, higher education, and the commercial sector including
the Library Association, the British Library, the UK Office for
Library and Information Networking, the Department for Education and
Employment, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. More
information about EARL can be found at http://www.earl.org.uk/
The Library Association is the professional body for librarians and
information managers, with 25,500 members in the UK and world-wide.
More information about the Library Association can be found at
http://www.la-hq.org.uk/
Sarah Ormes
Public Library Networking Research Officer
UKOLN, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY
Visit 'Stories from the Web' at http://hosted.ukoln.ac.uk/stories/
Tel. 01225 826711
Fax. 01225 826838
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