Folks, This new book might be of interest to members of A(o)IR ... many of its contributors are among us. david silver http://faculty.washington.edu/dsilver/ ****** Community Informatics: Shaping Computer-Mediated Social Relations Edited by Leigh Keeble & Brian D. Loader Routledge, 2001 ISBN 0415231116 (hardcover), 0415231124 (paperback) Will the Internet destroy community life or be the catalyst for its resurrection? Community groups, social support networks, voluntary agencies and government organisations are all actively exploring the potential of the new information and communications technologies (ICTs) to bring about democratic development and renewal. A rich variety of social experiments in what has become known as Community Informatics is now beginning to provide useful research findings and exciting examples of innovative applications. This book sets down some of the defining features of a Community Informatics approach and some of the common themes which are emerging. In particular it considers the following issues: * Sustainability * Employment * Community management * Public service provision * Partnerships of stakeholders * Local learning * Social support and networks This edited collection brings together leading exponents of Community Informatics from around the world and critically evaluates their experiences. CONTENTS Notes on Contributors Preface by Howard Rheingold 1. Community Informatics: themes & issues Leigh Keeble & Brian Loader 2. Staten Island Stories - handing over the tools of video communi-creation Perry Bard Part 1 -- Communaity Informatics as Place and Space 3. Physical Place & Cyberplace: The Rise of Networked Individualism Barry Wellman 4. Creating Community in Conspiracy with the Enemy Erik Stolterman 5. The Technological Story of a Woman's Centre: A Feminist Model of User Centred Design Eileen Green & Leigh Keeble 6. The Safety Net? Some reflections on the emergence of computer mediated self-help and social support. Nicholas Pleace, Roger Burrows, Brian D Loader, Sarah Nettleton & Steve Muncer Part 2 -- The Experience of Community Informatics 7. Community Networks and Access for all in the Era of the 'Free' Internet: "Discovering the Treasure" of community. Fiorella De Cindio, L Ripamonti & G Casapulla. 8. On Crafting a Study of Digital Community Networks: theoretical and methodological considerations. Nicholas Jankowski, Martine Van Selm & Ed Hollander. 9. Community Networking in Russia: identifying the research agenda. Sergei Stafeev 10. Some Lessons of Social Experiments with Technology Birgit Jaeger 11. Change Agency and Women's Learning: new practices in Community Informatics Anne Scott & Margaret Page Part 3 -- Electronic Empowerment and Surveillance 12. Social Capital and Cyberpower in the African American Community: A case study of a community technology centre in the dual city. Abdul Alkalimat & Kate Williams 13. Online Forums as a Tool for People-Centred Governance: experiences from local government in Sweden. Agneta Ranerup 14. Surveillance in the Community: Community development through the use of Closed Circuit Television. C William, R Webster & John Hood 15. The Techno-Flaneur: Tele-Erotic Re-Presentations of Women's Life spaces Tamara Seabrook & Louise Wattis Part 4 -- Policy Implications of Community Informatics 16. Community Informatics: Setting out the Research Agenda Mike Gurstein 17. Cultivating Society's Civic Intelligence: patterns for a new "world brain". Doug Schuler 18. Participating in the Information Society: Community Development and Social Inclusion Peter Day 19. Communities and Community E-Gateways: Networking for Social Inclusion Sonia Liff & Fred Steward Glossary Bibliography Index