Coalition for Networked Information
Encyclopedia
The Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) is an organization whose mission is to promote networked information technology as a way to further the advancement of intellectual collaboration and productivity. It is a joint initiative of the Association of Research Libraries
(ARL) as well as EDUCAUSE
. It was started in 1990, and its founding executive director, Paul Evan Peters
, served until his death in 1996.Paul Evan Peters, CNI's First Executive Director. (2004, March 3). Retrieved from http://www.cni.org/staff/peters_index.html
Since then it has grown to include over 200 institutions which include both for-profit and non-profit members. It holds semi-annual conferences where its member organizations send representatives to discuss the current trends and activities of the network
ed information community. Its directors are also frequent contributors to scholarly journal
s in the information science
field. It works on a consultative basis with many of its members: for instance, it is working with the Library of Congress
in an effort to map out a National Digital Preservation Program. It also works with international members in countries such as England and Germany.
, teaching and learning. It also works together with its member institutions to further collaboration between scholastic networks. Further, it works to develop a development framework in academic fields to further the creation and management of networks as well as to allow open access to the information.
s, and other sectors to ensure the collaboration of intellectuals across different disciplinary
studies. The improvement of dialogue among academics will help in large part to develop new competencies as well as to stimulate new program strategy.
opportunities as it continues to work towards furthering the collaboration of the networked information community. Its activities include close work with the Open Archives Initiative
, a focus on increasing campus infrastructure to support research programs, and helping supervise a risk analysis on the implications of the continuing shift towards digital content with respect to business continuity and the future of libraries. It will also be involved with the digital preservation
movement and is a leading advocate for the movement towards electronic theses
and dissertations.
Association of Research Libraries
The Association of Research Libraries is an organization of the leading research libraries in North America. As of October 2006, it comprises 123 libraries at comprehensive, research-intensive institutions in the US and Canada that share similar missions, aspirations, and achievements...
(ARL) as well as EDUCAUSE
EDUCAUSE
EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is "to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology." Membership is open to institutions of higher education, corporations serving the higher education information technology market, and other related...
. It was started in 1990, and its founding executive director, Paul Evan Peters
Paul Evan Peters
Paul Evan Peters Paul Evan Peters was named one of the American Library Association's 100 most important leaders in the 20th century for his leadership of the Coalition for Networked Information . His work was interdisciplinary, often blurring the lines between library science and technology...
, served until his death in 1996.Paul Evan Peters, CNI's First Executive Director. (2004, March 3). Retrieved from http://www.cni.org/staff/peters_index.html
Since then it has grown to include over 200 institutions which include both for-profit and non-profit members. It holds semi-annual conferences where its member organizations send representatives to discuss the current trends and activities of the network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
ed information community. Its directors are also frequent contributors to scholarly journal
Journal
__FORCETOC__A journal has several related meanings:* a daily record of events or business; a private journal is usually referred to as a diary....
s in the information science
Information science
-Introduction:Information science is an interdisciplinary science primarily concerned with the analysis, collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information...
field. It works on a consultative basis with many of its members: for instance, it is working with the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
in an effort to map out a National Digital Preservation Program. It also works with international members in countries such as England and Germany.
Developing and Managing Networked Content
CNI works towards assuring that the network is fully capable of facilitating the needs of education, more specifically the needs of scholarshipScholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
, teaching and learning. It also works together with its member institutions to further collaboration between scholastic networks. Further, it works to develop a development framework in academic fields to further the creation and management of networks as well as to allow open access to the information.
Transforming Organization, Professions, and Individuals
It also works on developing relationships between institutions, professorProfessor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
s, and other sectors to ensure the collaboration of intellectuals across different disciplinary
Discipline
In its original sense, discipline is referred to systematic instruction given to disciples to train them as students in a craft or trade, or to follow a particular code of conduct or "order". Often, the phrase "to discipline" carries a negative connotation. This is because enforcement of order –...
studies. The improvement of dialogue among academics will help in large part to develop new competencies as well as to stimulate new program strategy.
Building Technology Standards and Infrastructure
In addition, CNI also seeks to coordinate an infrastructure increase that would involve many institutions. The point is made that no single institution could build the required infrastructure to allow complete integration of knowledge, so each institution must do its own part in building the network. CNI also seeks to develop and test new technologies in the search for benefits to the networked information community.Recent Projects
For the 2007-2008 year, CNI was involved with a number of research and developmentResearch and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
opportunities as it continues to work towards furthering the collaboration of the networked information community. Its activities include close work with the Open Archives Initiative
Open Archives Initiative
The Open Archives Initiative is an attempt to build a "low-barrier interoperability framework" for archives containing digital content . It allows people to harvest metadata...
, a focus on increasing campus infrastructure to support research programs, and helping supervise a risk analysis on the implications of the continuing shift towards digital content with respect to business continuity and the future of libraries. It will also be involved with the digital preservation
Digital preservation
Digital preservation is the set of processes, activities and management of digital information over time to ensure its long term accessibility. The goal of digital preservation is to preserve materials resulting from digital reformatting, and particularly information that is born-digital with no...
movement and is a leading advocate for the movement towards electronic theses
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
and dissertations.