THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508250655
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES SCHULTZ, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Toll-free travel through cyberspace is beginning for citizens of Norfolk.
On Thursday, officials introduced Community Link, a $160,000 project that will provide city library patrons with access to the worldwide computer system known as the Internet.
Two computer terminals, one at the Norfolk Public Library's main facility, Kirn, and the other at the Blyden Branch, on East Princess Anne Road, are being made available to the public.
Users will be able to navigate at no charge through thousands of national and global databases known as the World Wide Web: vast and ever-growing collections of text, pictures and sound that cover virtually any conceivable subject.
As many as 20 more systems may be installed in other of the city's public libraries sometime in 1996, if pending federal grant proposals are funded.
``It's appropriate that we are inaugurating Community Link today, when Windows 95 becomes available,'' said John Morison, president and general manager of public broadcasting station WHRO, a partner in the venture. ``What has been created is a new electronic town square.''
The effort is the first phase of what advocates hope is the eventual evolution of Norfolk into a ``smart city,'' a place where computerized devices of all kinds connect citizens, government agencies, businesses, schools, universities, and civic and other social organizations.
Critics of the Internet have noted that it is accessible only to people with computers at home or work. So-called ``freenets'' are set up to encourage wider public participation.
``This is not a project designed just for people with computer savvy and money,'' said Lois Radford, a systems librarian with the Norfolk libraries and a Community Link planner. ``This is for everybody.''
During a Thursday morning press conference, and using a popular software program called Netscape, Radford gave an online demonstration of the Community Link ``home page.'' From the Link page, information seekers can browse half a dozen categories, such as art/culture/science, sports, emergency services, employment opportunities and municipal happenings.
Radford also used Community Link to connect to ``Thomas,'' a program that helps Internet seekers peruse legislation under consideration in both houses of the U.S. Congress. Radford pointed out to her audience a particular Senate bill that would designate a portion of Interstate 64 as a ``POW/MIA Memorial Highway.'' It's legislation that Radford said was news to her and probably unknown to most Hampton Roads residents.
``Things are changing so fast in the Information Age that relevant, real-time information will be available only on-line,'' she said. ``The federal government is already ceasing to publish (documents) on paper. If we don't step in to fill in the gap, people will be left by the wayside.''
Fifth District state Sen. Yvonne B. Miller, also in attendance, applauded the inclusion of the Blyden Branch in Community Link's inaugural. She said the library was ``in the heart of the black community'' and would enable residents to take full advantage of on-line services and information.
``Access is crucial,'' Miller said. ``If people are not plugged in, there will be a million things happening and none of us knowing about them. There will be a lot of other ties into this link that will be very helpful to people. I think this is a fantastic project.''
But, Miller said, computer-to-computer interaction cannot and should not replace the give-and-take of public, face-to-face deliberation on community issues.
Leading to the Link's formation were recommendations made by a task force that included some of the biggest firms and institutions in Norfolk, including Landmark Communications, parent company of The Virginian-Pilot. The project was made possible with a $110,000 Corporation for Public Broadcasting grant, administered by WHRO, and supplemented by an additional $50,000 donated by Bell Atlantic.
``Although a baby step, this represents an effort to mobilize attention,'' said Brian Callahan, director of interactive technology for WHRO and a Community Link architect. ``This will be particularly useful if it spurs partnership to provide more of these resources in public locations.''
Scouting the demonstration was Carolyn Caywood, librarian at Virginia Beach's Bayside library. The city is considering a project similar to Community Link, she said.
``I think this will make a vast difference,'' Caywood said. ``It's like taking water in a firehose and helping people get a decent cupful of what they want.'' MEMO: Those with Internet access from home or business computers may log on
to the Community Link home page. The address:
http://scholastica.whro-pbs.org:80/cl/index.html
ILLUSTRATION: Internet access ``for everybody''
GARY C. KNAPP
Lois Radford, a systems librarian for Norfolk, demonstrates features
of Community Link during a news conference on Thursday. Information
seekers can browse half a dozen categories, including
art/culture/science, sports, emergency services, job offerings and
municipal happenings.
by CNB