****Begin File******************Begin File*******************Begin File**** *************************************************************************** ISSN 1069-7799 ALAWON ALA Washington Office Newsline An electronic publication of the American Library Association Washington Office Volume 3, Number 61 October 12, 1994 In this issue: (210 lines) NTIA TIIAP GRANTS ANNOUNCED FREE PUBLIC ACCESS TO ONLINE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION *************************************************************************** NTIA TIIAP GRANTS ANNOUNCED Seven library-based projects were among the first 92 grants announced this morning by Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown as part of the NTIA Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP). Many of the other successful grant awardees include libraries as partners or key sites in their projects. Library projects funded included: 1) Colorado Department of Education ($400,000 to further develop ACLIN); 2) Southeastern Library Network, Inc.($470,000 to develop strategies and demonstration projects); 3) Newark (NJ) Public Library ($550,000 for purchase and installation of advanced telecommunications equipment and related resources); 4) San Francisco Public Library ($425,000 to enhance and further develop a comprehensive city and county information system); 5) Rockbridge Regional Library ($6,440 for a planning process to determine optimal method to link all area schools, colleges and public libraries); 6) Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg, NC ($450,000 to develop Charlotte's Web) and 7) Danbury (CT) Public Library ($16,000 for support for planning a community FreeNet to enhance delivery of community information). Examples of other projects working with libraries as partners included state grants to Massachusetts, Iowa, and Rhode Island. $24.4 million dollars in TIIAP grants were awarded to 92 projects. Larry Irving, NTIA administrator and assistant secretary of communications and information of the Department of Commerce, commented on the many excellent projects that they were not able to fund in these first awards. Irving encouraged people to resubmit their applications and indicated his agency's willingness to work with applicants to resubmit, revise their applications or write new proposals. The next round of grant applications should be announced the first of the year. To get on the TIIAP mailing list or to obtain more information about TIIAP, contact NTIA at: TIIAP National Telecommunications and Information Administration U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Room 6043 Washington, DC 20230 tel: 202-482-2048 e-mail: tiiap@ntia.doc.gov fax: 202-501-5136 *************************************************************************** ACCESS TO ONLINE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION On October 4, the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) announced the first site giving the public free access to many of the nation's most important federal documents with a phone call. The Congressional Record, Federal Register and Congressional Bills databases are now available to off-site callers through the Columbia Online Information Network (COIN) located at the Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia, MO. In cooperation with the federal depository library at the University of Missouri at Columbia, COIN is offering free public access to the GPO databases as part of an expanding gateway program which will extend nationwide. Users may reach COIN by dialing (314) 884-7000, or by telnet to 128.206.1.3. Anyone with a personal computer, a phone modem, and telecommunications software may connect from home or office to the GPO Access databases through the depository library gateways. Users may search the databases as frequently as they like, without charge. The full text of the documents is available the day of publication. Public Printer Michael DiMario wants to establish local outlets to the GPO electronic system in every State: "We want these important government publications available to the American public around the clock, 7 days a week." The "GPO Access" program, authorized by PL 103-40 and launched in June 1994, is already available for free electronic searches to walk-in patrons of many of the nation's 1,400 depository libraries. GPO is working with a group of depository libraries to develop model gateways for no-fee public access to GPO's databases. Built on existing campus and public networks, the gateway depositories will serve as models for the nationwide depository library system. The first model gateways will help GPO gather data on usage and the technical support requirements for users and participating libraries. Gateways at the University of Illinois at Chicago's LUIS system and the Seattle Public Library's Quest System will soon open to the public. Other depository gateways are being developed in Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. "Using the existing depository libraries is the best way to link the public with the GPO system," DiMario said. "Public libraries, other universities and colleges, and community networks will be added rapidly to get our information out." Local depository libraries will sponsor the program and assist in supporting users. The libraries will connect to GPO through the Internet. The new GPO initiative permits libraries to provide free off-site access through their own computer systems or those of partner networks in their areas. The GPO Access service currently has three full-text databases: The Federal Register, which includes proposed and final federal regulations and Presidential documents as well as meeting and grant notices; the Congressional Record with the activities and debates of Congress dating back to January 1994; and Congressional Bills, with all published versions of House and Senate bills from the 103d Congress. Other databases will be added as they become available. Under the law, depository libraries have access to the GPO service without charge. The online publications are available separately by subscription for anyone who wishes to purchase directly from GPO. Inquiries about GPO Access - subscription services should be directed to the Access User Support Team at (202) 512-1530, or Internet e-mail . GPO will soon send all depository libraries a description of the GPO Access outreach program, and an invitation to participate. Interested depositories should contact Gil Baldwin, GPO Library Program Services (202) 512-1002; Internet:; fax (202) 512-1432. GAO Report on the Information Superhighway The U.S. General Accounting Office, the Congressional watchdog agency, has recently released a report, INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY - ISSUES AFFECTING DEVELOPMENT (GAO/RCED-94-285) September 30, 1994. This report is available both in print and electronically. Electronic order information. To access the reports as FULL TEXT ASCII electronic files from the Government Printing Office (GPO) BBS, follow these steps: 1) TELNET to and designate "port 3001" or dial 202-512-1387; (***NOTE*** Depending on how your system accesses the TELNET feature, you may need to TELNET to this address: and hit return a few times after connecting. You should receive a greeting screen. If you receive a prompt for "PASSWORD", something is wrong. Either re-try or contact GPO at the phone number below.) 2) Log in or register on system (type: "NEW" if first time user); 3) From the Main Menu, select "Congressional Information - B"; 4) Select "GAO - #4"; 5) Select file name: INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY - RC94285.TXT Any questions on using the GPO system should be referred to GPO at 202-512-1530. Please do NOT use this e-mail address for questions about the GPO system or for ordering reports. GPO charges a fee to download each file. Exact costs are listed on the GPO system. Print order information. Printed copies via U.S. Mail are also available by calling 202-512-6000, sending a FAX to 301-258-4066, or by writing to: P.O. Box 6015, Gaithersburg, MD 20884-6015. Please include the report number and complete postal mailing information in your request. Copies may also be picked up at the GAO headquarters at: 700 - 4th St., NW, Washington, DC. The first printed copy is free of charge. Additional copies are $2.00. *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is an irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-5675. Internet: alawash@alawash.org; Phone: 202-547-4440; Fax: 202-547-7363. Contributing to this issue: Anne A. Heanue; Editor: Lynne E. Bradley (leb@alawash.org). ALAWON is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe ala-wo [your name]" to listserv@uicvm (Bitnet) or listserv@uicvm.uic.edu (Internet). Back issues and other documents are available from the list server. To find out what's available, send the message "send ala-wo filelist" to the listserv. The ALA-WO filelist contains the list of files with the exact filename and filetype. To get a particular file, issue the command "send filename filetype" to the listserv. Do not include the quotes in your commands. All materials in the newsletter subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. For other reprinting or redistribution, address requests to the ALA Washington Office (alawash@alawash.org). *************************************************************************** ***End of file******************End of file******************End of file***