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Dear LM_NET Colleagues, Recently I posted a two-part question to LM_NET. I asked "What are the two or three most critical issues currently facing school librarians in the use of the Internet?" I also asked "What do think the critical issues will be in three years?" My message stated that I needed the answers in four days, in order to more intelligently speak to an upcoming conference. I received 78 useable responses. This was a good sample, considering that the question required thoughtful, typed-out responses, with only four days for responses to be sent to me. The results were quite interesting and useful, especially for those who are involved in introducing the Internet to their schools. Although the top two or three issues are easily identifiable, I have also included issues indicated as of lesser importance, because thay are quite valid, and must be addresses in most of our school library programs. Thank you to all of those who answered my questions! I appreciate your timely answers. I presented the results to the first question at two separate conferences, and they were well-appreciated by those in attendance. Current Most Important Issues for LMS Internet Use: All 78 respondents answered this part of the questionnaire by naming three issues. A few only indicated two issues, while several offered as many as four. All responses were tallied. 1. 89% Access to the Internet: Gaining regular, reliable access to the Internet, including service availability, telephone lines, budget for equipment and long distance charges, etc. 2. 69% LMS Training: The training of the LMS themselves, in the mechanics and use of the Internet, including the management of its resources. 3. 47% Acceptance/Censorship: Acceptance and fear of LMS' new role, learning about new Internet resources, and new censorship concerns for students. 4. 46% Curriculum Integration: Integrating the use of the Internet into the curriculum; including teacher and administrator education and training; our role in overcoming colleagues' fear of change. 5. 13% Student Access: Providing student access and account management; bandwidth requirements for large numbers of student users. 6. 6% All other responses: Positioning the LMC as the appropriate school hub for Internet connectivity; unrealistic expectations for Internet resources (panacea); government regulation of the Internet, etc.. Most Important Issues Three Years From Now For LMS Internet Use: There were 55 who responded to this part of the questionnaire. This seemed to be a more difficult part of the question, and the responses were more brief. Many simply said "Same as above". 1. 69% Curriculum Integration and Teacher Training: Problems associated with Internet training for teachers and others, as well as Internet integration in to the curriculum; including associated costs and released time for the LMS to prepare and provide for the training. 2. 56% Access: Many more users may stress the bandwidth availability, and will have to be accounted for as the Internet grows in popularity. 3. 29% Information Management: Internet expansion will greatly increase the amount and type of information available. 4. 24% Censorship/Government Regulation: Censorship and illegal student activities, plus possible government regulations. 5. 24% Privatization/Commercialization: Increasing commercial intrusion into the education arena; the need to use private service providers, plus possible costs associated with lack of public support for Internet use. 6. 12% Student-Related Issues: Equity of access; gap between users and non-users of the Internet. 7. 9% Other Issues: Acceptance/fear of the Internet; durability or need for the LMC/LMS with respect to the individual's independent access to so much information as the Internet will provide. Best wishes, Peter PMILBURY@ERICIR.SYR.EDU ................................................................ Peter Milbury, Library Media Teacher/Mentor Teacher/TeleMentor ............. Pleasant Valley High School, Chico, California 95926 Voice: 916-891-3060 Co-owner of LM_NET: Discussion Group for School Library Media Professionals Connecting Over 2,800 School Library Media Professionals Worldwide ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^