The notion of the "information highway" is transcending national borders and is now being viewed in a global context. Rather than referring to a "National Information Infrastructure," governments are viewing the development of communications technologies as the "Global Information Infrastructure." The world is changing rapidly and in this age of burgeoning technologies, it is foolhardy to think that national boundaries will keep information in check.
The GII is a term that makes sense, especially for an international organization like the Special Libraries Association (SLA) which has members in more than 60 countries. Information knows no borders and the whole notion of an information highway/ superhighway must be viewed in a global context. There are still discussions about an NII, most notably in Canada and the U.S., both of which have advisory committees comprised of representatives from the public and private sectors, examining their respective "infostructures." It is appropriate that nations have their own "rules of the road" for the planning and implementing of its NII.
SLA supports the establishment of a new information infrastructure which can provide universal access to all segments of society. In a paper prepared for the transition team of the Clinton/Gore Administration in 1993, SLA stated that the U.S. needed an information strategy to "address issues relating to the development of an information infrastructure, including guaranteed access to government information for all citizens through libraries, distribution programs, community learning centers, and the information highway."
SLA members are at the forefront in making use of information technologies and the expanding Global Information Infrastructure. Information professionals not only want to see governments involved in its development, they demand proactive support. SLA encourages governments to seek assistance from information professionals as technologies change and priorities shift. Together, we can make the GII a successful reality.
In addition there has been a great deal of emphasis on the technologies and not enough on the facilities from which the technology is to be accessed. How can someone get information in a public library if that facility is closed because of budget cuts?
Or how can a student use a school computer if the building cannot open due to fire safety concerns? In all of the hoopla about paving the information highway, let's not forget about the necessity of having a solid foundation.
SLA has also reminded the administration and Congress that attention must be given to the quality of the information that is being carried by the new networks as well as to the telecommunications systems themselves. We should not focus solely on the process and take the integrity of the information on the system for granted.
Information flowing over the networks can potentially be altered. A book with missing pages can be easily spotted, but how will we know when electronic information is cut and pasted with a few keystrokes? Fortunately, safeguards have begun to be developed, but we have a long way to go.
Privacy is another issue that is becoming increasingly complex in a networked world. Computer-literate competitive intelligence professionals and even private investigators are already using the Internet to supplement their other sources.
There is a tendency of some in Washington, D.C., to focus on public libraries and entirely overlook special libraries when mapping out the future of the information highway. Members of the special libraries profession will certainly be primary providers and users of information on the network.
In the new networked environment special librarians continue to perform their traditional functions of collecting, analyzing, packaging and disseminating information, but they also continue to be educators. They help end-users increase their awareness of what is available over the networks and work with them to improve their information retrieval skills. They add value for their clients by creating menus which provide "gateways" to databases, and offer consistent and useful indexing standards. They guide their patrons and clients through the maze of information which is now or will be available on the networks. In this way, special librarians help libraries and their patrons save time and money.
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