Echicago

The announcement
You are invited to a one day symposium on Chicago and the Information Society

'''--- eChicago: Understanding and Implementing Local Community Use of Information Technology A Dominican University GSLIS symposium --- Friday, April 20, 2007 7900 Division Street, River Forest, Illinois http://www.dom.edu/echicago --- '''

How are local communities entering the digital age? What are local people and organizations doing with computers and the Internet? Are communities stronger as a result? What changes are afoot, ushered in by policymakers or others?

The one day eChicago symposium will focus on the process of local communities entering the digital age. Like every other social sector, the community sector is grappling with new tools and new information flows. Community-based institutions and social networks are challenged, especially because of the attendant costs, but they are also sites of innovation. What lessons can we share with communities? What lessons can we learn from communities?

Chicago is our geographic focus. As a global city rich in ethnic and immigrant communities, many of which participate in their own digital diasporas, Chicago has the opportunity to set the pace for other cities when it comes to digital inclusion. Combining forces across universities, libraries, local and state government, and communities—can only help this happen.

On April 20, practitioners will be sharing what is happening in and near Chicago; researchers will be sharing results of studies done across the Midwest; and everyone present will participate in thinking and talking about what the future might hold. In addition to resulting in a published proceedings, the symposium is expected to become an annual event attracting local policy makers and practitioners as well as scholars from Chicago, the Midwest, and beyond.

To reserve your space and complementary lunch, please email echicago@dom.edu. A parking pass will be emailed to registered participants.

The program
8:30-9 Registration and coffee outside Martin Hall, first floor of Fine Arts

9-10:15 Plenary Kate Williams, Symposium chair Welcome from Donna Carroll, President, Dominican U Keynote: “Twenty-five Years of Community Technology: Lessons Learned for Libraries and Local Communities,” Doug Schuler, Evergreen State College Respondent: Nancy John, U of Illinois at Chicago

10:15-10:30 Coffee break

10:30-11:45 Two breakout sessions Research: What do we know? What do we want to know?

Session A: Kathryn Clodfelter, Indiana U Karen Mossberger, U of Illinois Chicago Salvador Rivas, U of Wisconsin Chair: Ed Valauskas, Dominican U

Session B: Amy Kerr, Loyola U Adrian Kok, Dominican U Diane Velasquez, U of Missouri Chair: Susan Strawn, Dominican U

11:45-1	Lunch provided in Lewis Social Hall

1-2:15 Plenary Practice: What are local communities doing? What do they want to do? Paul Adams, CTCNeT/PrairieNet Harold Lucas, BronzevilleOnline Fran Roehm, SkokieNet/Skokie Public Library

2:15-2:30 Tea break

2:30-4 Plenary Understanding and implementing: What have we learned today? What are next steps? Doug Schuler, Evergreen State College Charles Benton, Benton Foundation Tracie Hall, Dominican U Ann Bishop, U of Illinois Urbana/Champaign Susan Roman, Dean, Dominican U GSLIS