Page 26 RAIN January/February 1985 Community Information Technology · The French have a word for it, "infomatics," the merging of information and communication technology. Of cou.rse, the French have also set the lofty goal of distributing several ' million videotex computer terminals throughout the country by the end of the decade. Since its beginning, RAIN has followed developments in "infomatics." With this new section, we hope to draw more attention to the area: This first time . round, it is merely a sampler of what's to come. In fu.ture is_sues we will review software that can.be used by nonprofit organizations; describe online services such as those briefly noted i!l this issue; provide a review of computer litera~ure with an eye toward community innovation; follow the emergence of new technologies that blend information management and communications; watch for uses of the technology that increase networking and cooperation among organizations; and finally, raise polity issues and values questions related to acceptance of information/communication technology. -SJ · Computerized Community Calendar The simple days are past when a community could be kept posted on public events by a town crier. Today even sophisticated mass media can barely keep track of education, cultural and political events in medium-to-large-sized communities. Most often the responsibility falls on the organizations that sponsor an event to figure out their own, often cumbersome, method to "get the word out." In today's information-concentrated urban. environment, it is sometimes difficult to . shout loud enough, or with enough finesse to draw out the right individuals to make the right audience. An agency in Minneapolis is addressing these problems by using a minicomputer to organize and disseminate information about educational, cultural, and civic events in the twin cities, St. Paul and Minneapolis. Metronet was established in 1979 by the Minnesota legislature to help public, private, academic, and special libraries in the seven-county twin cities area to develop region-wide programs. In the fall of 1983 Metronet received a grant from the Northwest Area Foundation to develop an information and communicaton system that would aid organizations in planning events and wo~ld benefit the general public by providing more timely information about community events. Using a minicomputer, Metronet staff, headed by Mary Birmingham, have developed a database that provides information about many primary organizations in the twin cities areas and the type of events they sponsor. While the technology facilitates the rapid organization and retrieval of the information, Mary Birmingham points out the project is more a social process NEWS BRIEFS than a technical feat. In order to bring the information together it has been necessary to create a network of "builders"- the primary public events coordinators in the area. It has been important to establish trust among the builders, especially to induce them to share information about events planneq for the mid-todistant future. · The database includes basic information about organizations and descriptions of events, including subjects, speakers, costs, and even bus routes. The information is built around the'organizations and not the events. Cataloging the organizations rather than the events puts the focus in the right place. The events will , cm:ne and go, but the organizations ' . (hopefully) remain. The database might ' become, to use an older metaphor, a part of the communities' memory~ Compu~er Leaming Centers Apple Computer has initiated a plan to , help establish computer learning centers throughout the U.S. where nonprofit organizations can obtain ongoing technical assistance, including an assessment of their computer needs, hands-on computer training, and access to computer · equipment. · ' · The program requires a collaborative effort on the part of computer-related vendors to supply the hardware and software, local funding sources to contribute funds for the staff and facilities, and nonprofit organizations to administer the lab. According to Mark Vermilion, manager of Apple Corporate Grants, "While · : nonprofit organizations supply much 'lo needed.services to our society, they are frequently not in an economic position to invest in information tools such as computers, even if these tools hold great promise for their work. With the establishment of centralized computer labs for community groups to use, these groups can benefit from the cumulative body of computer knowledge and experience generated at the lab, which can be readily shared." The first such computer lab that has received Apple's help through this . program is the InformationTechnologyResource Center (ITRC) at the Museum of S.cience and Industry in Chicago, Illinois. Funded by a $135,000 grant from the Chicago Community Trust, as well as contributions from various other foundations and corporations, the.center occupies a 3,800-foot space provided by the museum for free. / ·Negotiations are curreri~ly underway to establish similar computer labs in San · Francisco, California, Portland, Oregon, and Washington, DC. Computer Grants Partnership Apple has signed partnership agreements with United Wa'y of America, VOLUNTEER-The National Center, and Private.Agencies Collaborating Together (PACT) that allow these nonprofit organizations to award microcomputer grants to their constituencies. Under th.e terms of the partnerships, Apple- ~nd 'the parti:ter groups have. agreedon programobjectives and guidelines. The partners evaluate proposals within their respective programs and make final selections with Apple's ap- " ·proval. Apple d~nates the computers and software, instructs the partners' trainers and provides follow-up support information to the partner~ for dissemination to the receiving organizations. "This partnership concept is a uniquely cooperative effort between a corporation and nonprofit entities," said Vermilion.
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