Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!AI.MIT.EDU!tower
From: tower@AI.MIT.EDU (Leonard H. Tower Jr.)
Newsgroups: gnu.announce
Subject: Re: Common Knowledge
Message-ID: <8906282250.AA15320@wheat-chex.ai.mit.edu>
Date: 28 Jun 89 22:50:40 GMT
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Reply-To: sac@apple.com
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Forwarded-For: sac@apple.com (Steve Cisler)

I just returned from the American Library Association convention in Dallas 
where the Common Knowledge non-profit group had a booth, an organizational 
meeting, as well as volunteer supporters who publicized it.

I helped plan a session entitled "More technology--less access" and with 
some difficulty we were able to have someone speak about the goals of 
Common Knowledge.  There have been previous efforts at inter-library 
cooperation. Some have worked; some still do. Many have tended to make a 
transition to for-profit status and the idealism of the early phases 
changes to something quite different. Response to the speech was quite 
positive. Many suggestions for public domain databanks have been made, and 
they have had offers of help from various groups.

They had a successful business meeting on 6/26, and they hope to drum up 
popular and professional support during 1989. A few of the board know of 
the advantages of systems such as Usenet to spread news and make contacts; 
others are not interested.  Ditto for librarians as a profession. So don't 
expect to see any members on the Net for awhile. However, those of you who 
sympathize with their goals may be able to help once they get organized.  
I'll try to keep people posted, as I am personally interested in the success of the organization.  

Steve Cisler
Apple Library
408 974 3258