9454732 McClure The purpose of this research, "Policy Issues in Assessing the Role of Public Libraries in the NII," is to better understand the possible education roles and responsibilities that public libraries might assume in the NII. More specifically, the study has as its objectives to: Develop models that describe alternative roles and responsibilities (especially as they relate to public education and literacy) that public libraries might assume in the NII. Assess the impacts of these models in terms of criteria such as (1) promotion of universal access to networked information, (2) costs, (3) training and personnel requirements, etc. Analyze the existing Federal public library policy system to determine the degree to which that policy system might have to be changed to accomplish the Administration's policy objectives regarding public libraries in NII. Offer policy recommendations to revise and extend the existing public library policy system to promote proposed policy objectives related to a new role for public libraries in the NII. Policy research that addresses these objectives is essential if, in fact, the Administration's goal to "connect every classroom, every clinic, every library (and) every hospital in America into the national information superhighway by the year 2000" is to be realized.
