What I study

In general, I am interested in using a social informatics approach to study

• Electronic commerce, particularly the problem of trust
• Community networking
• The history and development of the internet and its implications for the information professions
• Managers and their uses of information in organizations

I am also involved on an ongoing exploration of structuration theory.

Papers

Sawyer, S. & Rosenbaum, H. (2000). Social informatics in the information sciences: Current activities and emerging directions. Informing Science, 3(2), 90-95. Retrieved 8/13/01 from:

An abstract is available below.

http://inform.nu/Articles/Vol3/indexv3n2.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (1999). Towards a theory of the digital information environment. In L. Woods (Ed.), Proceedings of the 62^nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science, vol. 36 (pp. 705-712). Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc.

An abstract is available below.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Papers/asis99.html

Rosenbaum, H. and Gregson, K. (1998). A Study of State-Funded Community Networks in Indiana: Final Report: October 1998.

An abstract is available below.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Research/commnet/intro.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1998). Web-based Community Networks: A Study of Information Organization and Access. In C.M. Preston (Ed.), Proceedings of the 61^st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science, vol. 35 (pp. 516-530). Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc.

An abstract is available below.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Papers/asis982.html

Snyder, H. & Rosenbaum, H. (1998). How Public is the Web? Robots, Access, and Scholarly Communication. In C.M. Preston (Ed.), Proceedings of the 61^st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science, vol. 35 (pp. 453-462). Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc.

An abstract is available below.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Papers/asis982.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1997). Intranets and digital organizational information resources: Towards a portable methodology for design and development. In C. Schwartz & M. Rorvig (Eds.). Proceedings of the 60^th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science, vol. 34 (pp. 14-26). Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc.

An abstract is available below.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Papers/ASIS972.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1997). Notes on a structurational view of digital information in organizations. In C. Schwartz & M. Rorvig (Eds.). Proceedings of the 60^th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science, vol. 34 (pp. 328-338). Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc.

An abstract is available below.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Papers/ASIS971.html

Rosenbaum, H. and Gregson, K. (1997). A Proposal for a Study of State-Funded Community Networks in Indiana

An abstract is available below.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Papers/prop.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1996). Structure and action: Towards a new concept of the information use environment. In S. Hardin (Ed.), Proceedings of the 59^th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science, vol. 33 (pp. 152-157). Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc.

An abstract is available below.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Papers/ASIS962.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1996). In the trenches of the digital revolution: Intellectual freedom and the "public" digital library. In G. Whitney, J.M. Griffiths, and C.A. Hert (Eds.), The Digital Revolution: Assessing the Impact on Business, Education, and Social Structure: Proceedings of the ASIS MidYear Meetings (pp. 163-171). Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc.

An abstract is available below.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Papers/ASIS963.html

Snyder, H., Rosenbaum, H. (1996). Advertising on the World Wide Web: Issues and policies for not-for profit organizations. In S. Hardin (Ed.), Proceedings of the 59^th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science, vol. 33 (pp. 186-192). Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc.

An abstract is available below.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Papers/ASIS961.html

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http://www.slis.indiana.edu/siwkshop/SocInfo1.html

Rosenbaum, H. (2009). Recession in Public Libararies. Invited keynote address given at Tipppicanoe Public Library System Staff Day, August 12.

As a web presentation (.htm):

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/tipp09/tipp_staff-day09.htm

As newer powerpoint (.pptx)

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/tipp09/tipp_staff-day09.pptx

As older powerpoint (.ppt):

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/tipp_staff-day09/tipp09.ppt

As a movie (.mov):

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/tipp09/tipp_staff-day09.mov

And as a PDF file (.pdf):

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/tipp09/tipp0_staff-day9.pdf

Rosenbaum, H. (2008). Social aspects of digital libraries: A theoretical exploration and research agenda. Invited keynote address given at National Taiwan University, December 12.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/taiwan_08_08/taiwan_08_08.htm

Available as powerpoint (.ppt):

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/taiwan_08/taiwan_08.ppt

Rosenbaum, H. (2008). Web 2.0, 3.0: After the thrill is gone. Invited closing keynote address given at the Faculty Summer institute, university of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, May 15.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/fsi_08/fsi_08.htm

Available as powerpoint (.ppt):

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/fsi_08/fsi_08.ppt

Also available as a powerpoint movie (.mov):

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/fsi_08/fsi_08.mov

And as a powerpoint show (.pps):

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/fsi_08/fsi_08.pps

Rosenbaum, H. (2007). Library 2.0: Stepping off the technlogy treadmill. Invited talk given at the Missouri Library Network Corporation Speaker Series, St. Louus, MO, November 11.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/mlnc_07/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2007). Library 2.0: A critical view. Invited talk given at the Illinios Association of College and Research Libraries, Springfield, IL, October 11.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/iacrl_07/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2006). Library 2.0: the treadmill is speeding up! Invited talk given at Webster University, St. Louis for the Missouri Library Network Consortium Speaker Series, November 8.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/mlnc_06/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2006). Technology, Libraries, and learning environments: Everthing that rises must converge. Invited talk given at the Indiana Online Users Group Spring Meeting, May 19.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/iolug_06/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2006). If I have Google, I don't need Libraries. Invited keynote given at the Lovejoy Library Annual Research Colloquium at Southeastern Illinois University at Edwardsville on April 13.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/siue_06/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2004). Has knowledge management delivered on its promise? Can it? Invited Keynote given at Online Information 2004 in London, UK on November 31.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/london_04/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2004). Humanizing technology in education: Is there a role for the humanities? Paper given at the New Directions in the Humanities Conference in Prato, Italy on July 19.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/italy_04/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2004). Social context and the information environment: A structurational approach to understanding the context of sociotechnical action. Invited paper at at the Understanding sociotechnical action workshop at Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland on June 4, 2004.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/edinburgh_04/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2004). Trendspotting: Libraries and technology (or - what do I have to learn now?). Invited Keynote at Indiana Online Users' Group Spring Meeting, May 14, 2004. Plainfield, IN.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/iolug_04/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2004). The importance of trust in the networked digital economy. Invited keynote at a workshop "Creating online partners: concepts and tools" in Darnstadt, Germany, February 19, 2004.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/opal-trust_04/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2003). How we get to the net: A brief introduction. Developed for the US Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/networks_03/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2003). The death of the user. ASIST 2003, Long Beach CA.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/asist_03/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2003). Introduction to Information Architecture. IUPUI School of Informatics, N450.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/iupui_ia03/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H., Davenport, E., and Swan, M. (2003). Situational trust in digital markets: A socio-technical exploration. AMCIS 2003, Tampa, Florida.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/ais_03/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. and Swan, M. (2003). Problem-Based Learning in New Media Education: The Case for Human-Computer Interaction. HCI International 2003 Crete.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/hci_03/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2003). Librarianship and the challenges of technology in the 21st century. Invited keynote address at Indiana University's system wide Librarians' Day. Indianapolis.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/lib_day_03/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. and Huang, B.Y. (2002). A framework for web-based ecommerce customer relationship management: Research in progress. AMCIS 2002, Dallas., TX.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/ais_02/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2002). A is for Acronym: Libraries and Internet Standards for Serialists. NASIG Annual conference, Williamsburg, VA. Invited.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/nasig_02/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2002). The effects of 9/11 on the Freedom of Information. American Library Association Student Chapter. April 5. Invited. Presentation available:

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/ala-sc_02/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2002). Ecommerce and the importance of trust: A social informatics perspective. Making IT Happen (UITS Annual meeting). Bloomington, IN, February 27, 2002.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/uits_02/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2002). Effective web page design. Office of Marketing and Communications. Bloomington, IN. February 19, 2002.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/ocm/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2001). Assessing an Ameritech Ecommerce Course. Scholarship of teaching and Learning Fall seminar series. Bloomington, IN. November 1, 2001.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/sotl_01/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2001). Using the Internet to teach ecommerce: The challenges of digital pedagogy. 2^nd Association of Internet Researcher's conference. Minneapolis, MN. October 11, 2001.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/aoir_01/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2001). Information technology, pedagogy, and the education of information professionals. WebDevShare 2001 conference. Bloomington, IN. October 10, 2001.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/webdevshare_01/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2001). Problem based learning and the virtual economy: A new approach to teaching ecommerce. Ameritech Fellows Summer Forum. Bloomington, IN. October 10, 2001.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/ameritech_01/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2001). Problem based learning and the virtual economy: A new approach to ebusiness education. 8^th EDINEB Conference. Nice, France. June 20, 2001

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/edineb_01/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2001). IA means information architecture: But what does it mean to web developers, system analysts, educators, and librarians? Indiana chapter of the American Society for Information Science and Technology Spring Meeting. Indianapolis, IN. May 9, 2001. (Invited).

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/iasis-ia_01/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2001). IT and global ecommerce: The shape of things to come. Department of Economics, St. Andrews University, Scotland. May 2, 2001. (Invited).

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/st_andrews_01/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2001). The ABCs of XML. Indiana Library Federation Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN. April 10, 2001

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/ilf-xmo01/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2000). The Internet, libraries and the future of reference services. Indiana Library Federation Reference Division Fall Conference. November 10, 2000

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/ilfref_00/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2000). Electronic commerce, digital information, and the firm. 63^rd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science, vol. 37

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/asis_00/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2000). The Internet, Libraries and the Future of Reference Services. Indiana Library Federation Reference Division Fall Conference. Indianapolis. November 10, 2000.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/ilfref_00/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2000). Teaching ecommerce in a virtual economy. Supercomputing '00. Dallas, TX. November 4, 2000.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/sc_00/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2000). Teaching and learning electronic commerce in a virtual economy. (With Elizabeth Davenport).6^th America's Conference on Information Systems. Long Beach CA. August 11, 2000.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/ais_00/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2000). A system for organizing situational knowledge in the workplace based on the shape of documents (with Elisabeth Davenport). International Society for Knowledge Organization, July 12, Toronto CA.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/Pres/www/isko_00/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2000). Technical services and the challenges of the digital era. Ohio Valley Group of Technical Services Librarians Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN. May 5, 2000

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/Pres/www/techserv_00/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2000). Metadata: Information access for the new century. Indiana Library Federation Annual Meeting, March 15, 2000.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/metadata_00/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (2000).Internet Access: Regular, Filtered, or Menthol? (Revisited). Indiana Library Federation Annual Meeting, March 14, 2000.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/filt_00/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (1999). Information Imperatives in an Age of Electronic Commerce "Business Intelligence in an Age of Networks" at the Business School, Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland October 7, 1999.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/bizintel/index.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1999). Customer service for electronic commerce: A driver of organizational change. World 11^th Productivity Congress. Edinburgh, Scotland. October 4.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/11pdc/index.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1999). Internet Access: Regular, Filtered, or Menthol? Indiana Department of Education's Technology Contacts Fall Meeting, Evansville, September 15, 1999 (updated version of the ILF talk).

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/filt_99/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (1999). Public Libraries and Access: What about Filtering? Indiana Library Federation Meetings. April 9, 1999.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/ilf_99/index.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (1998). Email: The Good and the Bad. Presented at CASE5 (Council for Advancement and Support of Education), Chicago, IL. December 13, 1998.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/case5/intro.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1998). A report on the state of the web Indiana Online Users Group Fall meeting. Indianapolis, IN. November 13, 1998.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/iolug/intro.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1998). An introduction to electronic commerce Presented at a two day seminar, Napier University, Edingurgh, Scotland. November 4,5, 1998.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/litclass/ecomm1.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1998). Intellectual Freedom and Digital Libraries: Issues for Information Professionals South Dakota State Library Association Meeting, Pierre,SD. October 1, 1998.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/if-dls/if1.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1998). The information use environment: A good idea made better. L503 "User Needs" July 6, 1998.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/iue/sld001.htm

Rosenbaum, H. (1997). Behind the Veil: Distance Education and the Web. Indiana Online Users Group Fall meeting. Indianapolis, IN. November 14, 1997.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/DE/de1.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1997). The Internet, the Web, and Information Design. SLIS Fall Orientation, August 27, 1997

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/infodesign/Infodesign1.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1997). Intellectual Freedom in the Digital Environment L503 "User Needs", August 12, 1997.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/privacy/imap.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1997). Electronic Commerce: If you build it, they may will may come L522 "Librarianship, Literacy...", August 5, 1997

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/litclass/imap.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1997). Enterprising the Web: Doing business on the Internet: What does this mean for the Business Librarian? Business References Services Section at American Library Association Meetings 6.30.97.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/buslib/ecomm1.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1997). Maintaining a web site: After the thrill is gone. Presented to the University-Wide Public Relations/Communications Marketing Staff Meeting (Indiana University) June 10-11, 1997.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/design/web1.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1996). The Future's so Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades...Trends in Electronic Commerce: Effects on the Work Environment IBS/SOMA Global Telecom Seminar (Indiana University) November 8, 1996.

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/ecommerce/telehome.html

Rosenbaum, H. (1996). From the Trenches: Intellectual freedom and the "public" digital library. Indiana OnLine Users Group and Indiana Chapter of the American Society for Information Science-1996 Joint Spring Program on May 10, 1996

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/hrosenba/www/Pres/ifasis/IFhome.html

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Abstracts

Abstract for Social informatics in the information sciences: Current activities and emerging directions

Social informatics refers to the interdisciplinary study of the design, uses and consequences of information and communication technologies (ICTs) that takes into account their interactions with institutional and cultural contexts. Social informatics research may be done at group, departmental, organizational, national and/or societal levels of analysis, focused on the relationships among information, information systems, the people who use them and the context of use. In this paper we outline some of the central principles of a social informatics perspective. In doing this we provide an overview of the intellectual geography of social informatics relative to work in the information sciences and discuss the contributions that this perspective and literature provide.

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Abstract for Towards a theory of the digital information environment

When thinking about how people design, implement, and use information and communication technologies (ICTs) and of the ways in which people use digital information, many researchers attribute an important role to the "social context." This paper argues that the context, while clearly important, is not well understood, particularly in terms of its relationship to ICTs, people, and their information behaviors. It proposes a set of elements that can be taken to constitute the social context of ICTs and digital information. This "digital information environment," can be useful in guiding research into the structure the social context and its influences on the ways in which people in different social and organizational settings use ICTs and digital information.

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Abstract forA Study of State-Funded Community Networks in Indiana: Final Report October 1998

This report describes the findings of a research project that assessed the current state of state-funded community networking and telecomputing in Indiana between August and November 1997. Using multiple data collection methods, including a content analysis of community network (CN) web sites, site visits to a sample of eight CNs, and a survey of CN Board members, information was collected about 24 of the 28 state funded CNs in Indiana (four sites were not online at the time of data collection in fall 1997).

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Abstract for Web-based community networks: A study of information organization and access

This paper reports a subset of the results a research project designed to assess the current state of state-funded community networking in Indiana. It explores the organization of information resources and services provided by 24 web-based community networks, examines the core design principles that have been most useful in the development of these community network (CN) sites and assesses the strategies currently used to provide access to these information resources and services.

Using a variety of methods, including content analysis of web sites, interviews with CN board members, technical staff, and users, and site visits, the study examined the 24 state-funded CNs and attempted to answer a set of research questions, a subset of which will be reported here. The study found that the CN sites have useful and usable technical infrastructures in place but are lacking the deep and meaningful local content and services that will allow them to become important nodes in their communities' digital information environments.

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Abstract for How public is the Web?: Robots, access,and scholarly communication

This paper examines the use of "Robot Exclusion Protocol" to restrict the access of search engine robots to 10 major American university websites belonging to institutions recently named among "America's Most Wired" universities (Gan, 1997). An analysis of web site searching and interviews with web server administrators at these sites shows that the decision to use this procedure is largely technical and is typically made by the web server administrator. The implications of this decision for openness in scholarly communication and for the future of academic, university-based web publishing are discussed.

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Abstract for Intranets and digital organizational information resources: Towards a portable methodology for design and development

According to recent estimates, approximately 150 new business web sites are being established each day (Bournellis, 1995). Although impressive, these estimates miss an important source of significant growth in web use and development - the Intranet: an internal organizational web, providing secure communication and accessibility to a wide variety of digital organizational information resources. The intranet is becoming an integral feature of many organizations' communication and information technology infrastructures, and many organizations are committing time, money, and resources to the rapid development of this latest trend in organizational computing. What are the problems involved in designing and protoyping an intranet for a large organization?

This paper begins with a discussion of the concept of the intranet, comparing and contrasting it with groupware (JSB, 1996), and presents an argument for its value based on a technical and information management considerations (Microsoft, 1996; Strom, 1995). An intranet development project for an academic organization is presented in some detail, after which the paper concludes with a description of a portable, user-centered and team-based methodology for the design and development of organizational intranets.

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Abstract for Notes on a structurational view of digital information in organizations

Information has become an important resource in organizations and is once again moving into the center of research attention, especially as more of this information is rendered in digital form. When digital information is considered as an organizational resource, it is an undertheorized concept. In an effort to rethink this concept, this paper proposes a structurational framework for digital organizational information within which this type of information is treated as a resource in an organizational information use environment (IUE). One objective of this paper is to develop this framework in detail, clarifying a base from which the social implications of organizational digital information may be explored. The structuration approach is used because it is "a highly useful framework for the analysis of organizations" (Mills and Murgatroyd (1991; 12). The structurational conception of digital organizational information as a resource is an important element of an organization's IUE, because of the way in which it can extend the power of those who control it (Rosenbaum, 1996b; Orlikowski, 1992). Taylor's (1991) concept of the IUE is used because it focuses on the organizational environment in "information terms." A second objective of this paper is to argue that the access to and control of digital information in organizations is a fundamental characteristic of the structuration of modern organizations.

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Abstract for A Proposal for a Study of State-Funded Community Networks in Indiana

This proposal outlines a research project designed to assess the current state of state-funded community networking and telecomputing in Indiana.

The main objective of this research is to understand the current state of state-funded community networks (CNs) to aid the Indiana Community Network Association's (ICNA) planning process for the future. This research will support ICNA's mission, which is to "facilitate the establishment, enhancement and cooperation of community telecomputing networks across Indiana" (ICNA, 1997a). It will explore the range of uses of resources and support provided by ICNA to state-funded CNs, assess the cooperative strategies currently used by existing community networks, critically examine the means by which potential users and content providers can be made aware of the value of community networking, and focus on the public education and public library components of community networking. The findings of this research will encourage an efficiency of effort so that network developers will not have to reinvent the wheel.

This research will explore the core design principles and services that are most useful in the development of a CN. It will examine how the time is spent developing a CN, and determine where it could be most expeditiously spent for the benefit of the net.

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Abstract for Structure and action: Towards a new concept of the information use environment

One pressing concern in library and information science is to understand the social context within which the generation and dissemination of information takes place in organizational settings. This paper examines the problems involved in the attempt to account for, in theoretical and empirical terms, the social context within which information is generated, sought for, acquired, evaluated, organized, disseminated, and used in complex formal organizations. It describes the findings of research based on innovative theoretical approach that focuses on one important element of the social context of information, called the information use environment. Based on the work of Taylor [1, 2] and Giddens [3, 4] this approach represents a conceptual advance in the field that allows us to improve our understanding of the complexities of the working world of information professionals.

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Abstract for In the trenches of the digital revolution: Intellectual freedom and the "public" digital library

The development of the Internet and the increasing popularity of the World Wide Web have opened up a new realm of information access, storage, and delivery for librarians and information professionals. Libraries and schools are striving to respond to the pervasive and persistent growth of global networking and manage the demand for access to this dynamic medium. Currently, 21 percent of American public libraries and 35 percent of public schools have some form of internet access (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1995; Sackman, 1995). Working in the trenches of the digital revolution, librarians and information professionals are beginning to offer internet services to patrons; their work marks the beginning of the grassroots implementation of the "public" digital library. Such efforts do not come without their attendant risks, and it is extremely important that those who are becoming network service and resource providers and content producers clearly understand what is involved in their participation in the digital revolution from an issues-and policy-oriented perspective.

This paper will outline one subset of the range of critical issues that are part and parcel of the world of networked information and discuss its impacts on librarians and information professionals. It will discuss questions of access, privacy, copyright, and the protection of intellectual property and suggest that librarians and information professionals discuss and develop reasonable acceptable use policies early in the implementation process that will allow them to effectively person the front lines of the digital revolution.

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Abstract for Advertising on the World Wide Web: Issues and policies for not-for-profit organizations

The growth and proliferation of the World Wide Web has been astounding during this decade; the number of sites continues to increase at an increasing rate. As the private sector has discovered the web, the ways in which the web is being used are beginning to change. Commercial ventures are becoming commonplace and many businesses, intrigued by the potential marketplace represented by the millions of users who are on the web each day, are experimenting with various forms of advertising. What happens when not-for-profit organizations begin to take advantage of this potential revenue stream? What kinds of issues will they face and what kinds of policies should they have in place before diving into the turbulent environment of the web? This paper begins with a discussion of advertising on the web and then examines the case of an educational institution that is selling advertising space on its web pages to commercial organizations. It examines the issues that have to be resolved before such activities can proceed and suggests a boilerplate policy for other institutions that may wish to explore similar avenues of publicity and revenue generation.

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