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------------------------- Original message follows -------------------------

Date: 31 Dec 1992 09:20:19 -0500 (EST)
From: BILL DREW <DREWWE@snymorva.cs.snymor.edu>

I have been asked to share any observations or conclusions to an INTERNET
workshop that I moderated for librarians.

The audience was composed of librarians from all types of libraries in the
central New York area with all levels of experience using internet and Bitnet.
There were well over 90 attendees.  The sponsoring body was the Continuing
Education Committee of the Central New York Library Resources Council (CENTRO)
which I chaired until I retired from the committee at the end of November.
This workshop was my magnum opus for my term on the committee. The workshop was
a 1/2 day from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm.  It was held in a large meeting room at the
Liverpool Public Library.  Equipment available and used included a large screen
television projector for videotape and demonstrations online.

To familiarize you with the format, here is an outline of the topics covered:


1. Introduction: speakers, purpose of workshop. -- Bill Drew, Chair of CE
Committee -- 5 minutes.

2. What is INTERNET (and NYSERNET)?  -- Jean Armour Polly, NYSERNET.
45 minutes.

        A. Definition of INTERNET and BITNET

                Jean used overheads and handouts.

        B. Definition of NYSERNET
                1. Services.
                2. Getting connected.

3. "If it plays in Peoria" Video. ABOUT THE Peoria Free Net

4. Use of INTERNET/BITNET by and in a academic Library --
Pamela McLaughin, Syracuse University. about 45 minutes.
        A. The role of INTERNET/BITNET  in the life of an academic librarian.

                Pamela used overheads and handouts.

        B. What is happening at Syracuse University.

5. Use of INTERNET/BITNET by and in a school or school library system --
 Judy Jerome; Onondaga, Madison, Cortland BOCES. about 45 minutes.

        A. TNT, BITNET and the INTERNET.

        B. The role of INTERNET/BITNET in the life of a school librarian.

        C. What is happening in Central New York schools.

                Judy related experience of using KIDS-NET (I believe) and
                reading messages from children in Bosnia (?) about the
                fighting going on.  Made a big impression.


6. Use of INTERNET/BITNET by and in a public library --
Jean Armour Polly, NYSERNET. about 45 minutes.

        A. The role of INTERNET/BITNET in the life of a public librarian.

                Used overheads from Merit Cruise demo.

        B. What is happening at Liverpool Public Library.

                Demonstrations of actual services via Liverpool Public
                Library's network.  Went well except that displays from
                MacIntosh were hard to see from back of room.

7. The Future --  panel discussion, questions and answers -- about 30 minutes.


We also had a display table of various recent publication on the internet and
Bitnet.  Materials handed out to all who attended included many mentioned on
NET-TRAIN and other listservs:

1.  LIBRARY RESOURCES ON THE INTERNET:  STRATEGIES FOR SELECTION AND USE (ALA)
2.  NETWORK KNOWLEDGE for the NEOPHYTE: Stuff You Need to Know to Navigate
the Electronic Village  (Martin Raish  mraish@bingvmb.Bitnet ).
3.  Jean Armour Polly's Surfing the Internet.
4.  Scot Yanoff's INTERNET SERVICES LIST
5.  A short bibliography from an EPIC search I did on OCLC online catalog.

The speakers also had many more handouts.


The biggest change I would make is to make the workshop a full day and to
allow time for breakout sessions for discussions.  The group was not too large
to handle for this type of program.  The intent was to show what is out there
and to show how it is important for librarians to be "connected".  It was
clearly stated in the brochures that this workshop was NOT a training session
on using the internet.  It is impossible to do that with such a large group.


Comments from attendees were generally very enthusiastic.  Several complained
about acronyms and new vocabulary being thrown at them.  My response to that is
that all terms were defined in the handouts and  during the presentations.  I
would also suggest that for such a large group that a medium sized lecture hall
be used.  It would greatly increase visibility of the presentations.

Overall, the workshop was a great success and I would definitely do it again.

Wilfred Drew (Call me "Bill")   Serials/Ref./Systems Librarian & CYBERNAUT
State University of New York  College of Agriculture and Technology
P.O. Box 902;  Morrisville, NY 13408-0902
BITNET: DREWWE@SNYMORVA Internet: DREWWE@SNYMORVA.CS.SNYMOR.EDU
Phone: (315)684-6055 or 684-6060  Fax: (315)684-6115
"It is impossible to make anything foolproof, because fools are so ingenious."-
anonymous.