February 2, 1995: Vol26n15: ELECTRONIC HIGHWAYS:  An Internet Information Board

An Internet Information Board
What's orange and blue and red all over? The Lockwood Library Internet
Information Board! In the past two years there has been an avalanche
of information on the Net. Often, the most interesting of these pieces
of information are small, elusive, and found off the beaten path. The
Internet board located in Lockwood's main entrance area is a favorite
stopping place for those who want to learn and laugh about the Net.
	Its "curator," librarian Maureen Stanko, introduced the board
a year ago with the basics -- What is the Internet? Why would I use
it? How do I get started? Since that time the board has evolved into a
engaging mixture of rotating features such as "Stats on the Net,"
"What's New on the Net" and "Today's Lesson." Net jargon is defined,
new emoticons (aka smileys) are highlighted, interesting gopher holes
and web sites are noted.
	Humor is ever present with, for example, plenty of cartoons,
the original tongue-in-cheek text of "Microsoft bids to acquire
Catholic Church" which arrived in many an E-mail mailbox in December,
Lily Tomlin's wonderful quote as Ernestine inquiring about the Net:
"Is it kind of like billions and billions of Bac-O-Bits of valuable
information strewn in every direction across that great salad bar in
cyberspace?" Yet the Internet board has its topical side with
clippings addressing "Security on the Net," "Pornography on the Net,"
"Gender issues on the Net," etc.
	Reporter readers who check out the board in the next few weeks
have a special opportunity in store for them. Members of Newt
Gingrich's "spin patrol" claim that Newt's vision of the Internet is
futuristic "cyberspace" while Al Gore's vision is the old-fashioned
concrete "information highway." Cast your vote for naming the
Internet: Newt's "cyberspace" or Al's "information highway." There
will also be an opportunity to write in your best metaphor for the
Net.
Have any clippings humorous or otherwise to spotlight on Lockwood's
Internet board? Send them to Maureen Stanko, Reference Department,
Lockwood Library, 645-2817, <mstanko@ubvm>.
 -- Gemma DeVinney and Loss Peque