HOW IS INFORMATION ORGANIZED AND WHO LOOKS AFTER IT?

The hierarchy menu system of the current Freeport software affects the
way that people may access the entire system.  The politics that are
associated with the administrative decisions as to who and what goes
where can sometimes be a great concern.  Items that are in sub-menus
may not get accessed very often because they are difficult to locate.

It was suggested that every community that is considering establishing
a Freenet should ensure that they access the cataloging and organizing
skills of the community s library staff.

It was also indicated that the Freeport software is probably only a
starting point and that in the near future it may be possible to
eliminate it totally by using key word searches for the topics of
interest to each individual user.


CAN JUST ANYBODY PUT STUFF UP ON THE NATIONAL CAPITAL FREENET?

No, it can be done only by "trusted users", who are given access to do
so, frequently on behalf of a community organization.  Some important
legal advice to keep in mind is to keep minimal editorial control over
what your information providers are putting up on your freenet.  The
reason is that if you act simply as a common carrier for their
information, you ARE NOT LEGALLY LIABLE for what your IPs put on the
system, either in terms of quality or content.

Freenet in Ottawa provides gateways to other organizations with their
own databases, which remain resident on their own systems.  An example
of this is Revenue Canada - Taxation.  Such providers are responsible
for providing their own dedicated line into their system.  This can to
a certain extent alleviate the problem of getting information that is
not in a .txt file, although if you're accessing such information from
a VT100, you're going to have a problem with displaying this
information, regardless of where it is resident.  But for information
being mounted on Freenet, the requirement is that it be in a .txt file
only.  

The issue of disseminating database information without the permission
of whoever compiled it (eg., mailing lists) was raised.  There is the
possiblilty that misuse of information that is of potentially great
commercial value could be construed as "piracy".

Logging user pattern information could be of use to information
providers because it can have long-term impact on what information
they will continue to put up on Freenet.  Log files monitor how often
a specific file is looked at.  There was a suggestion that this
information be made available on Freenet and that it be updated on a
regular basis (say, once a month.)


WHAT ABOUT MENUS?

You can only display a maximum of 17 menu items on screen at one time
and if you have more menu items than this number, you have to display
them all before you can choose one.  So, if you have more than 17 menu
items, consolidate similar topics wherever possible and then break
them down in a second-level menu.  This will cut down somewhat on user
frustration.  Remember that most users will begin to lose patience
after three levels of menus.



HOW MUCH ACTIVITY IS THERE ON THE PART OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND
INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE FREENET, TO KEEP IT
CURRENT AND TO RESPOND TO INQUIRIES THAT ARE POSTED FOR THEM?

So far it has been found that the existing communication strategies of
organizations do not lend themselves to the Freenet very well.  Many
organizations are timid about being accessible by the general public
through a medium which they do not yet fully understand.  Many of
these organizations are being carried on the Freenets right now even
though their participation is low because it does not really increase
the costs.


HOW CAN INFORMATION PROVIDERS BE ENCOURAGED TO POST TO THE FREENET?

Getting information on the Freenet is a challenge.  An "Information
Providers Kit"  would be an ideal way to help and encourage
information providers to submit stuff.  Help is needed to overcome
phobias, technical problems, etc.

Equipment shortages can also be a problem.  FreeNets should try to
arrange for equipment to be donated or loaned to "poorer" information
providers from old government equipment/donations.  It must be a clear
responsibilty of info providers to update their info.  One possible
way of encouraging them would be to provide them with usage
statistics, so they would know how many people look at which items. 
This would also help to convince them that the "passive" information
is not as well used as the more active, communications sections.


HOW DO YOU RECRUIT MODERATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS FOR A FREENET AND
WHAT KIND OF TRAINING IS NECESSARY FOR THEM AND INFORMATION PROVIDERS?

     It was pointed out that most people were recruited because of
their affiliation with a particular organization with an interest in
Freenet.  Most of these people already have the skills necessary to
participate in the development of the network.  

     When the systems became operational, it was found that people
volunteered to participate as SIG moderators and volunteer other
services.  There is very minimal training required to become a SIG
moderator.

     In the NCF, Warren Thorngate (aa004.freenet.carleton.ca),  has
produced a comprehensive package for training individuals to be a
information provided on the Freenet.  

Another group also discussed moderating special interest groups. 
Moderators should act as facilitators or animators, not as cops or
censors.  For expert advice on the subject of how to be a good
moderator, two sources were recommended.  One is the Study Circle
Resource Center, which has produced guides for moderators and the
other is Medisystems Design Group (MDG).  Both of these are US sources
and MDG can be accessed on Internet.


HOW CAN YOU BE SURE THE INFORMATION IS GOOD?

There was concern over the fact that the information you maybe
receiving may not be correct (not necessarily an expert opinion), but
others were quick to point out that the information received is often
based on consensus/mass consultation - there is a self-corecting
mechanism involved with enough people participating in a discussion.