A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Introduction:

Access for all, the report of the National Library of Education Advisory Task Force (1997) , articulated a vision for NLE "to serve as a collaborative knowledge broker that links other information services into a seamless national network of education information". (p. vi) In order to achieve this role of ‘knowledge broker’, the NLE Advisory Task Force recommended that NLE "should organize and activate a U.S. Educational Information Network composed of libraries, archives, schools, college and universities, professional organizations, private sector-businesses and non-profit corporations and other organizations involved in the provision, coordination and oversight of information about education". (p. 5)

This broad definition of the potential partners for the United States Education Information Network is reflective of the changing roles of traditional information providers and consumers that has resulted from the introduction of electronic publishing and information dissemination to the American educational community. The multiple roles which education information providers play are reflected in the responses to an informal survey of potential USEIN partners. All ten respondents to this survey described themselves as consumers, distributors and developers of education information. (See Appendix.)

A broad definition of partnership is also a fitting response to both the traditions of local control and to the increasing diversity of American education. This viewpoint identifies the "Role of a national library in the field of education ... to take advantage of the American tradition of diversity and decentralization in education matters by operating in partnership with all sectors of the education information community" (emphasis added). (National Library of Education (U.S.) Advisory Task Force, 1997, p. 1)

This inclusive vision of USEIN recognizes and values the contributions and perspectives that all members of the education information community can contribute to NLE’s attainment of its four goals of awareness, access, assistance and accountability.
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[Abstract] [Table of Contents] [Profiles Of Potential Partners]