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Many roles are possible for potential partners in USEIN including cooperation in the provision of services, the sharing of non-electronic resources, the coordination among distributed electronic repositories, cooperation on special projects and the development of common standards and policies. (NLE Advisory Task Force, 1997, p. 6) The partners may also participate in research and development activities to include the study of information use patterns in education, and the "use of information systems and services for resource sharing and information access and delivery". (NLE Advisory Task Force, 1997, p. 7) Another potential role is to work together to meet the challenges of the digital age in arranging for patron access to remote collections which are customized to fit the needs of specific users. (Online Computer Library Center Inc, 1997, p. 7) Partners in USEIN should also support the development of tools to organize and search massive amounts of information. As a collaborative organization USEIN must be responsive to the needs and capabilities of its members. USEIN must respond with equal vigor to each information need but hold varying expectations of contributions from its members.
Responsibilities for NLE:
In the development of USEIN, the National Library of Education must see itself as the first among equals. NLE must continue to provide support to its primary roles as the library for the Department of Education; as the manager for the ERIC program; and as the developer of the World Wide Web site for the Department of Education. In addition, NLE must provide support and leadership in its role as facilitator for the USEIN by assisting in developing an agenda for education information and by the initial identification of specific tasks which build upon the strengths of USEIN partners. These tasks may include the dissemination of information, the development of resources or the archiving of electronic resources.
Responsibilities common to all partners:
Obligatory responsibilities:
In order that USEIN be an entity that will meet the needs of all its members and that will contribute to the improvement of education at all levels there are responsibilities which every USEIN partner has the obligation to assume. These include:
2. Contribute to the development of goals for USEIN.
3. Promote the goals of USEIN.
4. Share information about NLE and USEIN with others.
5. Provide access to the resources of NLE and USEIN for their client groups.
6. Assist in evaluating the work of NLE and USEIN by collecting evaluative information from consumers of education information.
7. Provide feedback to NLE and USEIN regarding the work of these organizations.
8. Maintain current information about their own agency or organization in all USEIN and NLE publications and products.
Voluntary responsibilities:
The voluntary roles assumed by partners in USEIN will be determined in part by the priorities of each partner, but will also be impacted by legal, economic, political and technical factors. Among the voluntary responsibilities which any member of USEIN may assume are:
2. Provide education information content (print, mixed media and/or electronic) to NLE and other USEIN partners.
3. Assist in developing new strategies, search techniques and organizational structures for the dissemination of education information to consumers.
4. Assume a leadership role in the development of USEIN.
5. Assist in evaluating the work of NLE and USEIN by co-ordinating the collection of evaluative information from consumers of education information.
6. Develop or identify quality Web sites for a national digital library of education Web resources.
7. Develop and participate in a study of the information use patterns of all segments of the education community.
Voluntary responsibilities for specific USEIN partners:
Specific USEIN partners will have obligations which reflect the needs of their client groups, their areas of expertise, and their technical capabilities. Schools must actively participate in those roles which provide for equalized access to information for educators and parents and for sharing of the expertise of the elementary secondary community with higher education. Universities must take responsibility for those actions which will provide for full sharing of their information resources with the education information community, including primary source materials, as well as for sharing the expertise of their staff with elementary and secondary education and with the public. Academic libraries and school libraries must extend their resource sharing activities as well as work together to provide a seamless continuum of information access for students and staff at all levels of education. The contributions of professional associations and other education information providers will also reflect the needs of their clientele as well as their areas of expertise.
Libraries:
1. Assist in developing and implementing strategies for the preservation of education information resources.
2. Assist in instructing USEIN partners and education information consumers about electronic and print information tools.
3. Participate in the development of a national virtual electronic library by working towards the development of a single catalog providing access to education collections on a state, regional and national basis.
4. Serve as a reference service provider for USEIN partners and education information consumers for print and electronic resources.
5. Serve as an instructional services provider for USEIN partners and education information consumers for the use of technology in support of education.
Schools:
2. Serve as an instructional services provider for USEIN partners and education information consumers for the use of technology in support of education.
3. Contribute lesson plans, syllabi and curricula to a national digital library.
4. Inform educational research and practice by collaborating with other USEIN partners.
Colleges and universities:
2. Serve as an instructional services provider for USEIN partners and education information consumers for the use of technology in support of education.
3. Contribute lesson plans, syllabi and curricula to a national digital library.
4. Inform educational research and practice by collaborating with other USEIN partners.
Professional associations:
2. Serve as an instructional services provider for USEIN partners and education information consumers for the use of technology in support of education.
3. Cooperate with other USEIN partners in providing for group purchase and dissemination of information products.
4. Assist in developing and implementing strategies for the preservation of education information resources.
5. Extend participation in professional development activities to all members of USEIN.
Publishers and Other organizations:
2. Assist in instructing USEIN partners and education information consumers about electronic and print information tools.
3. Cooperate with other USEIN partners in providing for group purchase and dissemination of information products
4. Serve as a reference service provider for USEIN partners and education information consumers for print and electronic resources.
5. Serve as an instructional services provider for USEIN partners and education information consumers for the use of technology in support of education.
[Conclusion]