cni-directories: Re: Public Catalog of InterNet Resources
Re: Public Catalog of InterNet Resources
Craig A. Summerhill (craig@CNI.ORG)
Thu, 30 Jan 1992 12:01:11 -0500
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1992 12:01:11 -0500
From: "Craig A. Summerhill" <craig@CNI.ORG>
Subject: Re: Public Catalog of InterNet Resources
>
>What efforts are being made to establish a TELNET host/s that would serve as
>a public catalog of InterNet resources? By InterNet I mean not just *the*
>Internet, but the current global telecommunications network, public and
>private. Librarians and others have talked about and encouraged bibliographic
>control of electronic information. There are extraordinary InterNet resource
>guides available, but no way short of oral tradition and serendipity of
>locating a fraction of these. Shouldn't the national libraries of those
>countries with public and private data networks be reminded of their
>obligations to catalog electronic information? Maybe all this is happening
>at some level, but there seems to be a growing gulf between the educated and
>the rest of us when it comes to recognizing the vital importance of the
>InterNet. Virtual libraries are fine and dandy if you know where they are,
>but you'll still need a map or catalog to find them.
The Coalition's Working Group on Directories and Resource Information
Services is engaged in such a project. The TopNode project is designed to
create an authoritative top-level index of directories, catalogs, and other
networked information resources in order to facilitate the network
navigational duties of staff in libraries, computer centers, and other
network-oriented institutions. Obviously, end-users with access to the
network will have access to such a resource as well.
During the Fall Task Force meeting of the Coalition for Networked
Information (November 21-22, 1991), a "Call for Statement of Interest and
Experience" on the TopNode project was issued. Many individual and
institutional responses have been received. The leadership of the
Coalition Working Group on Directories and Resource Information
Services will be meeting next week to discuss the responses to the
"Call." Shortly after this meeting, I expect the Coalition to make a
public announcement regarding the selection of a main processing center
and/or a principle editor for this project.
I am not prepared to discuss specifics related to the implementation of
the TopNode until after the Working Group meeting next week. Stay
tuned for more details...
Craig A. Summerhill
Systems Coordinator
Coalition for Networked Information
Internet: craig@cni.org
BITNET: SUMMERHI@UMDC
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