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| Public Library Equity of Access Exemplary Projects | |||||||||
| Maine | |||||||||
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The Maine Telecommunications and Information Technology Planning Project: The project objective is to address the state's telecommunications and
information needs for the future. A portion of the project is devoted
to ensuring equity of access through collaboration and competition. "All Maine Libraries Offer Online Reference Resources. Thousands of journals and other materials available for use both in libraries, schools and homes." Maine has given all its citizens free access to online reference resources
in libraries or schools. Remote users need only to type a specific web
address to access the same information. Maine Dept. of Education One of the goals of this website is "to promote equity and access
to life long educational planning through distance learning." It
is for anyone interested in learning through distance education statewide. Maine Libraries and The Gates Library Initiative (1999) Maine libraries that applied to be included received free public access
computers if they served lower income communities, Microsoft software
and training for staff. Some who applied were: Andover Public Library,
Brewer Public Library and Gray Public Library. Project GO@LS This project strives to teach librarians, teachers, parents and library
patrons to effectively use the Internet in an attempt to bridge the digital
divide. Other libraries throughout Maine are participating, as well. Maine's King seeks to give all 7th graders computers The governor of Maine proposed giving all students in 7th grade laptop
computers beginning in Fall 2001. Within 6 years, all 7th grade students
would have a computer. Teacher training is planned in the proposal so
that they will know how to use the technology to learn about the state's
new academic standards. Maine librarians first to join suit against Net filtering law The Maine Library Association was the first plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging
a new law that requires libraries to block obscene online material. One
librarian felt that many smaller libraries that rely on federal funding
will be most affected by the new law and will choose not to use these
funds rather than comply.
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The University of Texas at Austin |
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