Community Publishing on Boulder Community Network

11. CONCLUSION

BCN continues to help community organizations and municipalities realize their own internal Internet connectivity goals and not just in BCN-specific ways. We have also helped them with their own internal applications/issues. Through the development of the online Community Directory, we have established a close relationship with the United Way and social services agencies in the County. In addition, we have brought the expertise of UCB's Computing and Network Services (CNS) into contact with the "real world" problems faced by the local human services agencies. Through BCN's orientation sessions, we are exposing people who otherwise might not be exposed to today's Internet, giving them skills necessary for tomorrow's information services.

We hope that the lessons that BCN has learned will help other community networks in designing their own roadmap for development. We didn't learn the lessons overnight. It has taken over a year of public use to clarify many issues, and many remain to be tackled. Overall, we would stress that planning for maximum inclusion of all participants is critical. Establishing a close and workable relationship with information providers is central to the accuracy and timeliness of the information on the system. Most of all, it is important that the community network make itself know in the community as a project that everyone can contribute to and become involved in.

Ultimately, community networks are not about "the system" they are about the relationships that form during the system's development. These relationships continue to grow after the system has been put in place. What is really exciting is what happens "around" the system: the matching of needs and expertise; the people helping people; the synergism and exciting collaborations between two otherwise disparate groups or individuals. The network system comes together for the sake of a common vision, and common goals.

Special thanks to Peggy Rueda and Suzanne Kincaid for their editorial assistance in preparing this paper.

Thanks to the following people for their support of the Boulder Community

Network: Leslie Aaholm (Public Information Officer, City of Boulder), Ron Abbott (Manager, Boulder Public Library Info Systems), Peggy Bair (Knight-Ridder Information Design Labs), Libby Black (Director, Boulder Valley Internet Project), Tim Buczak (KGNU), Steve Cisler (Apple Library of Tomorrow), Steve Conley (City of Boulder), Don Dulchinos (CableLabs), Barbara Gigone (Director, Boulder County Community Services), Bryan Griffin (VP., Cyberspace Development), Bruce Henderson (Professor, UCB Journalism), Derek Hodovance (UCB Computing & Network Services), Sandy Hume (Boulder County Commissioner), Bruce Kirschner (Operator, Boulder County Civic Center BBS), Nicole Laurence (UCB Computing & Network Services), Kathy Lenz (UCB Computing & Network Services), Al Marti (UCB Computing & Network Services), Neal McBurnett (AT&T Bell Labs, Boulder Public Library Commission), Dick McGee (MIS Director, Longmont), John Montgomery (UCB Continuing Education), Sue O'Brien (Associate Dean, UCB Journalism), Kris Ross (UCB Graduate Student), Wick Rowland (Dean, UCB Journalism), Joe Snyder (Manager, Boulder County Information Systems), Richard Varnes (City of Boulder, Channel 6), Jim Waterman (Software Development Consultant; US Bureau of Reclamation) and all the others in the community who have helped. For a full list of the BCN Community, see http://bcn.boulder.co.us/bcn/bcn-people/bcn-people.html.

Author biographies:

Madeline Gonzalez was the initial BCN Coordinator. Prior to BCN, her background was in user interface design/development at AT&T Bell Labs. She has a Master's in Computer Science/Telecommunications from Stevens Insitute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, and a Bachelor's in Engineering (Computer Science) from the University of Florida, in Gainesville, FL. Currently, she works in Apple Online Service's Advanced Concepts Development Group, and serves as a volunteer on BCN's Management Board and Research group. E-mail to: Madeline.G@eworld.com

Catherine Weldon is currently the Coordinator for Boulder Community Network, and is completing a M.S. in Telecommunications from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She holds a B.A. from UCSD in Cultural Anthropology and Japanese Studies. She also has 15 years experience in publishing. E-mail to: weldon@colorado.edu

Beginning of Chapter | Table of Contents

Comments: Catherine Weldon or Madeline Gonzalez