The information society
| Pages | 521-522 |
| Published date | 01 June 1997 |
| Date | 01 June 1997 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb045606 |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Europe
EU information packs launched in
libraries
The European Commission is fulfilling its commit-
ment to making access to European information
easier by enabling UK citizens to access EU infor-
mation through their local library.
The Public Information Relay (PIR) of local libraries
is part of a wider network of European Relays (NER)
and is the first of its kind in the
EU.
At the request of
the PIR, the Commission has produced a free EU
information pack which will be distributed to over
3000 libraries in the UK.
The pack answers many basic questions about the
EU and suggests sources for further information. It
will provide a useful starting point for the public,
stu-
dents,
business people and all those seeking facts
about the
EU,
its
work,
and the benefits membership
confers.
Contents are organised under three main headings:
"What is the European Union?'; The European
Union — what does it do?'; and 'How can I find out
more?'
Among the documents included are a guide
to EU institutions; facts about the single currency; a
guide to the Treaty of
Amsterdam,
industry, business
and the single market; and information for those who
want to work in another member state of the
European Union.
Further information is available from Susan Wilson
or Giancarlo Pau at the London Representation of
the European Commission, on +44 (0)171 973
1951/1964.
United Kingdom
Netd@ys
Europe 1997
An initiative has been launched by the EC to raise
awareness of the challenges and educational oppor-
tunities offered by the introduction of new technolo-
gies in schools. The unpronounceable Netd@ys
Europe 1997 — though we suspect 'Netdays' is the
approved pronunciation — is launched in partner-
ship with the UK's National Council for Educational
Technology (NCET) and aims to promote European
school Web sites and projects on the Internet,
encourage public and private partnerships, and sup-
port the establishment of a European School
Network.
UK schools and colleges are invited to get involved
by visiting the Netd@ys Web pages at
http://www.ncet.org.uk/netdays. Here they can
obtain Internet support materials, register their
school and Internet
projects,
take part in online trea-
sure hunts, find out about regional Netd@ys activi-
ties,
receive information about European funding
opportunities and submit ideas for a Netd@ys
poster.
The project hopes to result in a networking of 10 000
European schools. The official EC Netd@ys Web
site is at
http://netdays.eun.org.
A national grid for learning
Prime Minister Tony Blair has promised that all of
Britain's 32 000 schools are to be connected via the
Internet to a 'national grid for learning' by 2002, with
schools starting to get connected by September
1998.
Also,
by 2002 every one of Britain's seven
mil-
lion schoolchildren should have their own e-mail
address.
At the moment, it is reported, Britain's secondary
schools have an average of one computer for every
8.5 pupils, which is not high but still double the
equivalent German figure. It is also better than
Japan,
France and Italy. However, only 6000 schools
are connected to the Internet and it appears that
more than a third of the country's teachers don't like
using computers.
Secretary of State for Education David Blunkett is
promising a crash training programme with a budget
of £100 million as well as money from the National
Lottery, and British Telecom will provide cut-price
telephone charges for schools using the
grid.
With
Microsoft head Bill Gates as adviser to the scheme,
no guesses as to the operating system of choice.
A less than sanguine approach is being taken by
teachers' unions to the news that their members
must become computer-literate within the next five
years.
Eamonn O'Kane, deputy general secretary of
the National Association of Schoolmasters and
Union of Women Teachers, says 'the fear of some
teachers is that a sustained emphasis on information
technology and computers could undermine the
basic skills of numeracy and literacy.' Princess Anne
has also warned of children being 'enslaved' by com-
puters, which suggests she doesn't use Windows
much.
Mr Blunkett has responded to the criticism by
saying that the plan is not a substitute for the tried
and tested methods which form the foundations of
the government's literacy and numeracy drive, but a
key complement to it.'
United States
Congress
wants to legislate Internet
domain names
To the bafflement of many, Congress's House
Science Committee is considering drafting legisla-
tion to prevent the registration of top-level Internet
domains such as
.com
outside the United States.
THE
INFORMATION
SOCIETY
Continuing
our
review of
government initiatives
and projects
that will
help
the growth
of
the
Information
Society.
If
you know of
such
a pro-
ject,
or
are involved
in
one
that
you
would like
to
see
here,
please con-
tact
the Managing
Editor,
Ben
Jeapes,
at
the
pub-
lisher's address
or by
e-
mail at
tel@learned.co.uk.
The Electronic Library,
Vol.
15,
No.
6, December 1997 521
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