Virtual Field Trip #3: Exploration of Akron, Ohio and Fairbanks, Alaska's Community Networks

1. Name of Network: Akron Community Online Resource Network (ACORN)

2. The Web Address (make this a hyperlink): http://www.acorn.net/

3. Place it serves (This may be defined in terms of a region, a county, a city or town, or some other designation. It serves the city of Akron, Ohio.

4. What is its Mission?
This Network did not mention a specific mission statement but from what I read I found that this Network is used to connect people from the community of Akron to information based resources as well as information for groups that are unique to ACORN.

5. Who sponsors it? The Akron-Summit County Library

6. Is it volunteer run? Does it have paid staff? Or both?
From what I could find the Akron-Summit County Library actually employs a Network Services Coordinator that takes care of the ACORN service.

7. What services does it offer and do these services cost anything? Some examples of services that you might find are e-mail, access to newsgroups, web discussion forums, Internet and web access, hosting web sites for non-profit organizations, businesses, individuals, e-mail lists. Many other services might be provided so be sure to note these as well. (You can make an unordered list of services to answer this question if you'd like, or you can answer it in paragraph form.)
The Services offers access to local information and community organizations, internet access, and free website hosting for non profit groups, clubs, and organizations in Summit County. There is no charge for ACORN just a time limit of one hour per day. ACORN had offered e-mail at one time but it was phased out in September of 2003.

8. If the network provides local information, what categories of information does it provide? (A short narrative in paragraph form along with a list of categories would be appropriate for this answer.)
When you go to ACORN's homepage there is a link on the left side of the page that is Akron Area Links. When you click on that a separate page comes up with listings of various types of information connected with the city:
Arts and Culture, Business and Employment, Clubs and Organizations, Education, Entertainment, Government, History, Hospitals, Libraries, Media, Neighborhood Watches, Parks and Recreation, Police Departments, Religious Organizations, Social Services, Sports, Travels and Tourism, and Weather.
Once you click on any of these links another page comes up to links for art museums in the Akron area, job hunting services, etc.

9. Does the network convey a "sense of place"? That is do you get a sense of some of the unique qualities of the place and the people it serves? If so how? Provide an example page. If not, provide an example of a "placeless" page.
I think that this site does give you a "sense of place" especially with the link for the Special Interest groups that are connected with the site. Most of these groups can only be found in the Akron area. An example would be all of the Special Interest groups are from the city of Akron or from Summit County. Some of these groups include, Akron Area Computer User's Group, Akron Youth Symphony, Men's Garden Club of Akron, etc.

10. Is there anything that you find particularly interesting about this network? If so what is it? Provide a link.
I just think it's interesting how community oriented this link is. Akron is only about twenty minutes outside of Cleveland and I was expecting a lot more of an influence from Cleveland on this page. I had never known that there were community networks such as these and I think it's good especially for smaller cities like Akron that can be overshadowed by larger ones such as Cleveland.

11. Provide a credit for yourself. This information collected by: Jackie Fuller

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1. Name of Network: FairNet

2. The Web Address (make this a hyperlink): http://www.fairnet.org/

3. Place it serves (This may be defined in terms of a region, a county, a city or town, or some other designation. FairNet serves Fairbanks, and Interior Alaska.

4. What is its Mission? Its mission is: to build and strengthen existing communities through shared and integrated information services. We promote computer and telecommunications literacy, and support access to electronic information for all people.

5. Who sponsors it?
Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library, the UAF Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, KUAC Public Radio, and the United Way Volunteer Action Center

6. Is it volunteer run? Does it have paid staff? Or both?
The website actually provided an electronic version of its handbook for its workers and there are paid employees, as well as volunteers that help make FairNet successful.

7. What services does it offer and do these services cost anything? Some examples of services that you might find are e-mail, access to newsgroups, web discussion forums, Internet and web access, hosting web sites for non-profit organizations, businesses, individuals, e-mail lists. Many other services might be provided so be sure to note these as well. (You can make an unordered list of services to answer this question if you'd like, or you can answer it in paragraph form.)
The services that it provides does not cost anything and you can access this even without a computer of your own because FairNet can be accessed from public access points around the city of Fairbanks and other surrounding areas. This website is much like ACORN in the fact that it provides links to community information, but it also provides information on how to deal with various computer problems people might face. This information is in easy to follow information not technical terms.

8. If the network provides local information, what categories of information does it provide? (A short narrative in paragraph form along with a list of categories would be appropriate for this answer.)
The local information provided is under the headings of Employment, Education, Fairbanks, and Local Tourism. There are also broader topics such as Alaska, and Computers. There's also a link that provides information about FairNet.
When you click on these links rather than having a page of other links, the information is actually laid out for you to see. You don't have to go searching for it on your own like you do with ACORN.

9. Does the network convey a "sense of place"? That is do you get a sense of some of the unique qualities of the place and the people it serves? If so how? Provide an example page. If not, provide an example of a "placeless" page.
I think that this network conveys a "sense of place" for the town of Fairbanks as well as for the State of Alaska. For example the link for Alaska lists information about the history of the state and information about various communities in the state. The Fairbanks link sends you to a page including various topics of interest such as sports, local clubs, religious organizations, etc and when you click on the topic another page of various links come up giving information about these various organizations.

10. Is there anything that you find particularly interesting about this network? If so what is it? Provide a link.
The most interesting thing about this network is just that the culture difference. I mean the ACORN website has listings for Art Museums and this site has links to Dog Mushing clubs. I think that looking at these different sites showed me how different each city could provide information to its public.

11. Provide a credit for yourself. This information collected by: Jackie Fuller