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he Saint John Free-Net (SJFN) went on-line on Thursday July 25th for trials. These trials will be taking
place over the next month, weekdays from 9am to 7pm, and you are invited to come and visit our web site,
located at: http://www.sjfn.nb.ca/
The Free-Net contains information on more than 260 Saint John area non-profit organizations from our community. A "basic" web page is provided to all qualifying Non-Profit/Community groups free of charge.
This is the first phase of our Community Information Network project. In conjunction with the Saint John Free Public Library (located in Market Square, Saint john), SJFN will be establishing a Public Access Terminal(PAT) at the library. The general public will be able to use the terminal "free of charge" by the end of August to access information on the Free-Net and the Internet.
Check out the Free-Net "links," participate in our discussion groups, and give us feedback about our site. E-mail address is: admin@www.sjfn.nb.ca
he Internet has captured the imaginations of the citizens of the world in only a few short years. It
has brought ability and opportunity in ways never thought of before. Thanks to the internet, people can now
communicate instantaneously with each other, no matter where they are in the world. Information can be
offered and retrieved the moment it becomes available in many different formats, from simple text to full
motion video. More and more information is offered and available in more different ways on the internet
every day. The amount of information is growing exponentially, without any apparent slow down in the
foreseeable future. It is clear that the long contemplated "information society" is now here and it is here to
stay.
Communities must ensure that their citizens do not get left behind by, or worse swept away, by the tidal wave this new era leaves in its wake. As the amount of information available on the Internet grows and foreseeably other mediums of dissemination may dissipate, access to the Internet will become more and more important. Those who have access will have an advantage. Those who do not, will be left behind. Much like the establishment of libraries to allow people access to books which they might not otherwise be able to read, free-nets have popped up all over the world to deal with this problem. Free-Nets provide access to the internet for people who might not otherwise be able to obtain access, and provide information on behalf of people and organizations who might not otherwise be able to do so. The free-net concept is an important component of the information society.
It is now almost two years ago that a number of people from our community recognized this responsibility and started an initiative to establish a free-net in Saint John. After much long and hard work by many people who were all determined to do it right rather than quickly, the Free-Net is now a reality and has established its presence on the world wide web. This, however, is only the beginning. Our immediate plans are to establish our own e-mail server, obtain faster access to the Internet, provide more information and to educate as many people about the Internet as possible.
To get where we are today, we have had a lot of help from people and organizations in our community for which we are deeply thankful. We will need more help. Our goal is an important one in which many can assist, be it by giving their time as a volunteer or by signing up as a member. No effort is too small, no donation too little. You too can help. Give us a call!
Jacob van der Laan
