Background paper on NZ Online
From the Library and Information Advisory Commission for the meeting with the Hon. Marian Hobbs and Hon. David Cunliffe on Tuesday 14 December 2004 at 4pm.
Index
The Library and Information Advisory Commission (“LIAC”) - role and responsibility
LIAC has been established as a permanent body under the National Library (Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa) Act 2003 and advises the Minister Responsible for the National Library on:
- library and information issues in New Zealand, including Mātauranga Māori, and access to library and information services; and
- the role of library and information services, including Mātauranga Māori, in the cultural and economic life of New Zealand; and any other matters requested by the Minister.
It does this through:
- maintaining a strategic overview of the library and information sectors;
- encouraging ownership of the process amongst wider stakeholders;
- providing stakeholder perspectives on issues and proposals;
- commenting on specific papers and policy that lie within LIAC’s ambit of responsibility, and as requested by the Minister; and
- engaging with public consultation on matters related to LIAC’s work programme, as appropriate.
Before giving advice to the Minister, the Commission must, to the extent practicable, have regard to:
- recent national and international developments in relation to library and information services; and
- the appropriate means for promoting collaboration among persons and institutions (for example, museums, libraries, and archives) in relation to protecting, preserving, and promoting access to information, including documentary heritage and Mātauranga Māori.
LIAC’s vision is:
“Aotearoa – New Zealand: a leading information democracy”
Activities which enable LIAC to achieve its vision are:
- mapping the existing information landscape and analysing the gaps;
- imagining the information society ; and
- contributing to policy arch of strategies and frameworks.
LIAC has met throughout the year to discuss a range of matters, including the timely release of the draft Digital Strategy. This strategy provides the policy framework, which LIAC was seeking to underpin the achievement of its vision. It offers a framework for imagining the information society. LIAC believes that New Zealand libraries are ready and willing to play their part in turning the Strategy into reality for all New Zealanders.
Draft Digital Strategy
The draft Digital Strategy is of great significance to LIAC, given its alignment with the concept it has been developing of NZ Online (the subject of the meeting). This has been discussed by LIAC at several meetings, as part of its advisory role on library and information issues.
LIAC’s response to the draft Digital Strategy is as follows:
- agrees with the vision of the Digital Strategy;
- congratulates the Government for its ‘whole of government’ approach;
- recognises the Strategy provides a unique opportunity to incorporate Mātauranga Māori into the way New Zealand articulates its digital future;
- recommends that public libraries be used as vehicles to achieve the vision; and
- proposes the creation of a new entity, New Zealand Online, which would support ‘imagination points’ (i.e. projects, which could provide the framework for a world-class, digital infrastructure).
New Zealand Online
When established, NZ Online would act in effect as a rich and sophisticated information environment which connects individuals and communities. The concept of a NZ Online as the ‘knowledge bank of New Zealand’ (with requisite supporting elements) has obvious links to the 3 ‘C’s’ of the draft Digital Strategy: Content, Confidence, and Capability [see Appendix 2 for more detail].
Put simply, NZ Online would be an intranet for all New Zealanders providing access to a rich online environment, full of content and experiences. NZ Online would stimulate content creation, provide information access, encourage the development of skills, and drive policy development (e.g. intellectual property rights, institutional arrangements, content strategy), and technical capability (the ‘nuts and bolts’ required for accessing online information). It will do this by engaging with the sophisticated library and information network already available, and extending that network to a far wider cross section of the community, business and public institutions.
As a result NZ Online will ensure that New Zealand Aotearoa is a leader in the development of innovative and practical solutions, for the maintenance of the free circulation of information required to safeguard our democratic society.
Appendix One: NZ Online – What does it consist of?
WHAT IS NEW ZEALAND ONLINE?
- a contestable funding strategy
- an online content and collaboration strategy
- an IP strategy – creative commons
- an authentication framework
CONTESTABLE FUNDING STRATEGY
Content
- conduct audit of what we have?
- develop co-ordination/collaboration frameworks
- encourage new initiatives
- develop context to allow sharing of resources
- encourage linkages with creative/private sector and government polices (e.g. GIF)
Confidence
- digital literacy
- tools tactics /frameworks
Connection
- encourage innovation?
- privilege community networks?
- acknowledge technical diversity
ONLINE CONTENT AND COLLABORATION STRATEGY
Websites
- originator
- aggregator
- showcase
- research hub
- standards hub
IP FRAMEWORK
Creative Commons
“The Creative Commons …enables copyright holders to grant some of their rights to the public while retaining others, through a variety of licensing and contract schemes, which may include dedication to the public domain or open content licensing terms. The intention is to avoid the problems which current copyright laws create for the sharing of information”
AUTHENTICATION FRAMEWORK
A national framework, which transforms the authentication debate into a debate about equitable access and equitable creative rewards.
Appendix 2: NZ Online – How would it work?
Content |
ConceptInformation space or waharoa (“gateway”): An intranet for New Zealanders. It would be a passport (with rights and authentication) for all citizens to a rich online environment full of content and experiences which will provide a space to explore new knowledge and learning to support whatever interests individuals, communities, businesses might have. NZ Online would cover the pan-sector nature of NZ online research, learning, national identity, growth, innovation, communities, business, recreation etc and interdisciplinary coverage, science, health, law, humanities etc. Will include access to ‘deep web’ as well as the ordinary web (which is easily accessed by ‘Google’ searching).How will it work?NZ Online would offer a choice of search engines and act as a rich and sophisticated information gateway, bringing the world’s knowledge to all New Zealanders. Every New Zealander would have the right to use to all information accessible through NZ Online. NZ Online would also be a showcase to the world of New Zealand content: different levels of access would exist [discussion point: some information paid for by NZ taxpayers and therefore restricted to citizens/residents only]. |
Content & Confidence“The Creative Commons …enables copyright holders to grant some of their rights to the public while retaining others, through a variety of licensing and contract schemes, which may include dedication to the public domain or open content licensing terms. The intention is to avoid the problems which current copyright laws create for the sharing of information”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons |
ConceptsPart AProvide an opportunity to create content online. A new organisation would be established called New Zealand Online, which would be a knowledge bank or virtual, creative space for New Zealanders. There will be a contestable fund to which you can apply to support the development of new content (also technical support and resources). The only requirement is that it needs to be accessible to everyone through NZ Online.How will it work?Would need to consider governance and institutional arrangements but a model like NZ On Air is very effective and could be adapted for NZ Online.Part BRedefine Intellectual Property Rights. Develop a creative space (creative commons) where new ideas could be explored, and shared, with other New Zealanders. Creative Commons is a flexible approach that balances the rights of the creators of intellectual property with the means for freeing up ideas for innovative and creative use by others. It moves away from the current ‘either/or’ approach to intellectual property rights.How will it work?Based on an international model, Creative Commons (an intellectual property rights mechanism) would redefine access to published information and rights management in NZ. IP holders can hold on to some rights but give up others, if they choose. Creative Commons is a way of allowing people more access to intellectual property while retaining some rights for the owners/creators of the intellectual property.A national authentication framework which, transforms the authentication debate into a debate about equitable access and equitable creative rewards could also be developed. |
Confidencee-regions |
Provide facilities for all New Zealanders to access New Zealand Online.If you don’t have access to a computer or the internet, your local public library acts as the internet hub of your community (e-regions). It provides you with free access to New Zealand Online, and is there to assist you with skills training. |