However, physical connectivity, by itself, is not enough to bring the full benefits that the networks are capable of providing. The Internet is a medium, not a knowledge base, and the information contents it can deliver are so vast and variable that it is difficult for users with limited assets to locate and retrieve the materials and data they desire. Thus the spread of the Internet to developing countries has increased the demand for applications and services that make networked information resources fully available. Unless such services are provided, the Internet and its contents may remain inaccessible, and research and development efforts may suffer. In China, for one, there are multiple barriers to access.
Some users have no access but have urgent needs for information.
In addition to documents and other materials, users need 'informal information' that resides in the experience of individuals rather than in electronic databanks or paper libraries, but often cannot reach the most knowledgeable or willing correspondents. For these and other users, there is a greater rather than lesser need for human intermediaries, that is, computer-literate research librarians who can help navigate the wilderness of information that is on the networks, locate and authenticate contents, point to experts and other knowledge sources, and coach the use of search skills and Internet tools. An ITS in the U.S. or Hong Kong connects via the Internet to a companion station in China or Southeast Asia. The companion station is staffed by research and technical assistants who provide training and support. An ITS provides research, reference, and document delivery services, together with on-line consulting, and helps users gain access to information resources worldwide.