Information commons

[ewt]

I wasn't very clear what I meant in this post.

So:

The practicalities of making internet access (or books, for that matter) free for a certain amount of public access are many and complex, however this does not mean that they should become facilities available only to those who have the money to pay for them.

Discuss.

Comments

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

When I tried to get "internet" access at libraries in Islington in 2004, it turned out to be extremely limited web browsing access. There was no telnet, no ssh, no https, and one was forced to use ancient computers that could just about handle Islington Council's webpages. I understand the reasons that many of the restrictions were in place, but I do not consider that to be internet access.

Libraries do pretty well at books, I think, for those willing to wait... but access to other resources through libraries is still extremely wrinkly.