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Terry Grunwald, US
community networker and author of 'Making the Net
Work', visited the UK at the invitation of
Partnerships
Online from
July 25 - August 8 1998.
The tour was part
of the UK Making the Net Work initiative, which
aims to promote the use of information and
communication technologies for community
benefit.
During the tour
Terry made a number of presentations, available
here. She will be keeping in touch on her return to
the US, and exploring the scope for twinning UK and
US initiatives.
A marriage made in
heaven?
Public libraries
and community networks
An audience of 40 librarians and community sector
representatives heard Terry Grunwald, US pioneer of
the use of ICTs in disadvantaged communities, urge
the development of constructive partnerships
between libraries and community networks. Her
presentation was given at a meeting organised by
Community Development Foundation http://www.cdf.org.uk
and hosted by the Library and Information
Commission in London on 28 July 1998.
Comparing the strengths of the libraries movement
and the community networking movement, Terry
Grunwald said: 'The strengths seem to be
complementary. The differences do not amount to
conflict.'
Showing a wealth of experience in helping community
organisations exploit the technology, and an almost
emotional commitment to the public library ethos,
Terry pointed the way to c-net and library
partnerships which could extend the benefits of the
Information Age to all citizens and organisations.
Her vision calls for the use of the technology to
help develop socially-inclusive and sustainable
communities. Equal access and the capacity to
include all sections of the local community are
part of that vision. Terry was emphatic about the
innovation and strategic thinking of the UK
community networking movement, arguing that in many
ways it is leading the world.
Martin Dudley, chairing the meeting as a member of
the Library and Information Commission Research
Committee, said: 'Community networking is about
sharing experiences and knowledge. In combination
with a public library movement dedicated to the
enrichment of individuals and their many
communities of interest, we have a potentially
powerful alliance to promote social inclusion and
develop community identity.
'Creative synergies between the established and the
new will help formulate practical models for the
Information Society.'
The main outcome from the meeting will be the
establishment of a new online discussion list on
Libraries and social inclusion. The list will be
facilitated by David Wilcox of Partnerships
Online, who
was responsible for bringing Terry Grunwald to the
UK for her present visit of talks and meetings.
Terry Grunwald is author of Making the net work:
online strategies for community-based
organisations, available from Partnerships Online -
see below. She is currently Project Director of
NCexChange, http://www.ncexchange.org
a project of the North Carolina Justice and
Community Development Center, a multi-forum
research and advocacy organisation serving
low-income, working poor, and minority populations
and communities in North Carolina. NCexChange
promotes and supports electronic networking for
nonprofit groups and low wealth communities in the
state, and they have been working in this field
since 1990.
Discussion
list
In order to join a
discussion list on libraries and community
networking
- Mailto:majordomo@p4t.org.uk
- the
message
- subscribe
libraries
Making
the Net Work - Terry's book
You can see an
extract from Terry's book at http://www.ncexchange.org
and obtain a copy from
- Partnerships
Online
- 13 Pelham
Square
- Brighton BN1
4ET
Cheque with order
to Partnership Books £11.50 inc post and
packing. Queries mailto:info@partnerships.org.uk
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