NATIONAL CAPITAL FREE-NET
                        PUBLIC ACCESS COMMITTEE
 
           REPORT OF ACTIVITIES JANUARY 1994 TO JANUARY 1995
 
			   95Feb05/C.Bradshaw
 
The Public Access Committee (PAC) completed its second year.  In the 
spring, the Board adopted a redrafted mandate prepared by the committee, 
and formally recognized the chairman, C. Bradshaw, whose term began in 
January 1994. 
 
The new mandate set out four areas of activity: 
 
* Support for the existing public access terminals/stations (PAS/Ts)
* Recruitment of additional sites and resources to support them
* Promotion of the "free-nuts" idea to other committees and to the NCF 
  community
* development of a strategy for improving access by sectors of the 
  population now under-represented among the user (both active users and 
  registered users). 
 
Major accomplishments during the year:
 
1. Addition of new PAS/Ts
 
During the year, two PAS/Ts were added to Rideau Township library 
branches, one at the Aylmer library, one a Employment Canada, one at the 
Algonquin College resource centre, and one at Industry Canada. 
 
In the fall, the committee discussed the priorities for further 
expansion.  It was agreed that sites would be favoured if they provide: 
a) long hours of access and b) access to user sectors which have little 
alternative access to computers or who were not participating now in NCF 
in proportion to their representation in the population at large.  
Seniors centres were favoured. 
 
2. Creation of a PAS/T list on-line
 
During the summer, Lisa Donnelly and C. Bradshaw compiled a list of all 
the PAS/Ts, locations and hours.  Michelle Ryan did additional research 
before it was posted in September.  It has been revised since by Pat 
Drummond.
 
3. Creation of a PAS/T technical support group
 
At the December meeting, a technical support group was created. 
Daniel Gallant agreed to coordinate it.  Also, three "guardian angels" 
(GA) were recruited to look after particular PAS/Ts: Stephen Toy for the 
Ottawa Public Library, Miranda Gray for RMOC, and Peter Martin for the 
Sandy Hill site.  GAs for the other sites would also be sought through 
the volunteer database.  However, there would always be a need for the 
technical support group, both for emergencies and as back-up to the less 
technically-oriented GAs. 
 
4. Corporate funding support for expanding the PAS/Ts
 
The committee followed up on an initiative of the previous chairman, 
Peter MacDougall.  Getting long-term funding for PAS/Ts in the area 
libraries was the goal, but a number of obstacles could not be overcome: 
 
* the need for NCF to have charitable status
* the fact that libraries have a different status in Ontario and Quebec
* differences in opinion as to how technically advanced the PAST's 
  should be.
 
At year end, the Ontario libraries agreed to develop their own proposal.  
The Quebec libraries may do the same.  Linnie Kalloo, Doris Rankin and 
Julie Chahal will continue to work on this.
 
5. Tutoring project
 
Chris Bradshaw and Daniel Gallant developed the idea of having an under-
utilized PAS/T be used by experienced volunteers at night and on 
weekends to tutor new users on a drop-in basis.  The RMOC has given 
approval to access to its PAS/T after hours in the Window on the Region 
(WOR) as soon a security wall is constructed.  Volunteers will be 
recruited and hours established through on-line appeals. 
 
6. Report on people who don't use their NCF accounts
 
A team led by Julie Chahal contacted a sample of registered 
members who had never used their accounts.  They found that:
 
* 30% had forgotten their password
* 46% expected to receive something in the mail so didn't look up their   
  account number because phone lines were always busy, home modem or   
  computer not working, or couldn't figure out how to go about getting on 
  and so didn't bother.
* 20% seemed to have moved since their phone number didn't work.
* 12% wanted their account cancelled because they have full internet 
  access elsewhere or are moving away.
 
The improved registration process will help to reduce confusion, but the
main problem of discouragingly busy lines will remain a problem.
 
PROSPECTS FOR THE NEXT YEAR: 
 
The Committee emphasis on expanding the PAS/Ts has been successful, 
although more growth is possible.  However, in light of the over-
subscription of the NCF capability, funding support to expand the 
equipment and in-coming lines must be a higher priority.  As such, the 
committee will reduce its activities in the next year, awaiting 
challenges from the new board.  Chris Bradshaw has announced he wished 
to retire.  Lisa Donnelly is looking for a replacement from the ranks of 
volunteers. 

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