In the shifting sands of networked information, everyone's struggling for a foothold . . . Many in the public and private sectors are questioning their roles in the electronic era, and what the defining lines are between public sector and private sector information dissemination. This newsletter features highlights of the event, with an emphasis on what was learned during these frank and open discussions. In closing remarks, both public and private sector attendees attested to a better knowledge of the forces at play in the other sector and a mutual understanding. Private organizations have diverse profit margins, product mixes, and production flows.
Government agencies operate under a set of often conflicting laws, policies, and regulations.
Private sector organizations are compelled to reposition themselves for financial survival. There are probably less differences than we might have thought coming in, and we ought to look for the opportunities to work together to create win-win situations. Miriam Drake, Dean and Director of the Libraries and Information Center, Georgia Institute of Technology, said there seems to be confusion about who the users are and about defining terms, e.g., quality, currency, comprehensiveness. There are problems with uses and products. Another hidden cost of use and dissemination is the cost of printing, which is fast moving from producer to user, because most users prefer to print out Web pages rather than read screens.