Approved-By:  Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pacs-l
Date:         Fri, 8 Jan 1993 17:35:32 CDT
From:         jds@concert.net
Subject:      Clearinghouse for Networked Information Discovery and Retrieval

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
In article <9301052101.AA04846@merit.edu> , krit@merit.edu writes:
>A special feature will be a panel of WAIS, archie, and Gopher experts:
>  George Brett, National WAIS Clearinghouse
>  Alan Emtage, co-creator of archie
>  Mark McCahill, Gopher project leader

A clarification: there is no "National WAIS Clearinghouse." Rather, there
is The Clearinghouse for Networked Information Discovery and Retrieval, of
which George Brett is Director. Here is how we describe our mission:

Several user-friendly client-server software tools have recently been
developed for locating and retrieving information published on computer
platforms reachable over wide area data communications networks like the
Internet. Among them, the Wide Area Information Server (WAIS), the Internet
Gopher and archie have become popular, and the WorldWide Web (WWW) is
poised for popularity once suitable client software is developed and
distributed. WAIS, archie and Gopher present overviews of where information
of interest is likely to reside and then assist the user in locating
specific information objects. WWW permits a user to thread a path through
the network by selecting tagged hypertext items.

While focused on the particulars of the evolution of wide area information
servers like WAIS, The Clearinghouse for Networked Information Discovery
and Retrieval (CNIDR) will work closely with developers of other tools
toward providing compatibility and consistency, and, to the extent
possible, convergence of the tools.

Specific activities will provide a central focus and forum for networked
information discovery and retrieval (NIDR) tools and will minimize the
divergence of individual implementations by providing a repository for the
collection, evaluation, and distribution of protocol-compliant releases and
enhanced versions.

CNIDR participates in standards and policy associations such as the
Internet Engineering Task Force and the Coalition for Networked Information
to further consensus among developers and explore appropriate uses of
networked information. CNIDR also actively promotes the use of networked
information discovery and retrieval tools at many national and
international conferences and workshops to inform and educate implementors
and end users.

CNIDR is primarily supported by a three-year grant from the National
Science Foundation and by the MCNC Center for Communications in Research
Triangle Park, NC. As a component of the NSF grant, CNIDR seeks additional
and continuing support from a Consortium of public and private participants
formed in January, 1993. The Consortium will allow CNIDR to leverage the
startup funding from NSF and MCNC and to extend its mission and activities
to information providers and consumers beyond the research and education
NSF constituency.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jane D. Smith   e-mail:jds@concert.net  phone:919/248-9213
Clearinghouse for Networked Information Discovery and Retrieval (CNIDR)
Center for Communications - MCNC
PO Box 12889  3021 Cornwallis Road
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709-2889
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU