Software Resources
Community Network Directory
 

Community Network Resources

TOOLKITS

Center Start Up Manual - The CTC Center Start-Up Manual is widely recognized as a principal guide for establishing CTCs and serves as an organized patchwork of CTC experiences
Community Building Resource Exchange - This web site, a project of the Aspen Institute Roundtable on Comprehensive Community Initiatives for Children and Families, provides a broad array of resources and information about innovative community building efforts to revitalize poor neighborhoods and improve the life circumstances of residents and their families.
Community Development Tool -  prepared by the Texas Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board to help communities interested in applying for a TIF community networking grant, this planning aid lays out the steps and requirements for planning and implementing a community-based computer network.
Good Neighbor's Guide to Community Networking - A series of readings and URLs intended to present a summative guide, and hands-on Web Tour, to the essential lessons and concepts gleaned from the experience of the early community networking pioneers who explored new methods of matching ‘caring and connectivity’ to create social value for their communities.
HUD's Neighborhood Networks Publications - Neighborhood Networks is a community-based program created by HUD in 1995. Through innovative private/public partnerships, Neighborhood Networks establishes multi-service community technology centers (CTCs) that bring digital opportunity and life-long learning to low-and moderate-income residents living in Multifamily assisted and/or insured housing.
Online Community Toolkit -  Thinking about building or hosting an online community? Looking for specific tips, tools and ideas? Start here. The following is a collection of articles by Full Circle Associates Nancy White, Sue Boettcher, Heather Duggan and others.
Telecommunications Infrastructure Readiness Index - The Readiness Index is an inventory and evaluation diagnostic of the Telecommunications Infrastructure in your community. Part A, the telecommunications Quotient helps you analyze individual affinity for using telecommunications technology; Part B, the Infrastructure Index, helps the community document local Internet access and evaluate the community presence on the World Wide Web and Part C, includes an assessment of telecommunications providers in your community.
Thumbs Up - Evaluating Community Websites - Thumbs Up is an evaluation tool designed to help community members find what works and doesn't work in the design and planning stages of their websites. By choosing random community websites the user of this tool gets to view other community's attempts at putting their presence on the Internet. Following the look at the site an evaluation form is presented in a modified "Siskel and Ebert" thumbs up or down format.
Verizon Foundation - The Verizon Foundation Technology Resource Guide helps you keep pace with potential partners and tools to stay on the cutting edge.  This Guide provides up-to-date information on web sites that we consider the best-in-class in helping you transform your organization with new technologies.
Wiring Rural Vermont - A recap of the process of wiring rural Vermont.
 

LINKS

America Connects Consortium for CTCs - The America Connects Consortium is a collaboration of eight partners and allied organizations, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, who are working together to bring information, training, technical assistance, public attention, and new resources to community technology centers across the country.
Appalachian Center for Economic Networks - The Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet) is a community economic development organization located in rural southeastern Ohio. The mission of ACEnet is to build the capacity of local communities to network, innovate, and work together to create a strong, sustainable regional economy that has opportunities for all.
Association for Community Networking - The Association For Community Networking (AFCN) is an educational nonprofit corporation dedicated to fostering and supporting "Community Networking" -- community-based creation & provision of appropriate technology services. AFCN's mission is to improve the visibility, viability and vitality of Community Networking by assisting and connecting people and organizations, building public awareness, identifying best practices, encouraging research, influencing policy, and developing products & services.
Austin Free-Net - A non-profit corporation established in 1995, Austin Free-Net (AFN) helps community organizations launch free Internet access sites for the public. AFN provides technical expertise, services and equipment to community organizations, to build computer labs that are technologically and economically self-sustaining over time.
Blacksburg Electronic Village - An outreach project of Virginia Tech, the Blacksburg Electronic Village serves the local community, as well as providing a resource for information about starting a community network, telecommunications infrastructure planning and developing economic development initiatives.
Community Technology Review
CompuMentor has been helping nonprofits with technology for twelve years and has a Software Program providing high quality software to schools and nonprofits nationwide at costs ranging from $7 to $40. You'll find software from Microsoft, Lotus and Macromedia, among others.
ContentBank is an online resource for information, tools and people dedicated to building Internet content that works for low-income and underserved communities
Digital Divide Network offers a range of information, tools and resources that help practitioners stay on top of digital divide developments. It also serves as forum where one can share their experiences with colleagues around the world.
Intel Computer Clubhouse uses technology creatively to enable under-served youth to acquire the tools, problem solving skills and confidence for successful lives
Lone Eagle Resources  strives to maintain the small circle of the very best Internet learning pathways, requiring the least time and effort, to deliver the highest levels of benefit and motivation for people of all cultures and literacy levels.
Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network offers visitors a wide range of community information, covering areas as diverse as education, performing arts, social services, science, law, medicine, and government. MAIN is a non-profit, all volunteer, organization bringing community information to the Greater Metropolitan Austin area electronically.
TechBuilder Compaq's TechBuilder provides on-line tools that will assist you in developing a powerful technology use plan.
Techsoup.org is a comprehensive source of technology information just for nonprofit organizations.
TeleCommunity Resource Center (TCRC) is a non-profit program created to advocate and help develop benefits of Internet technology for communities, especially those communities in rural and underserved areas.
U.S. Department of Education - The Community Technology Centers program promotes the development of model programs that demonstrate the educational effectiveness of technology in urban and rural areas and economically distressed communities.
WebTeacher is a self-paced Internet Tutorial that provides both basic and in-depth information about the World Wide Web. E-mail, video conferencing, chat rooms, Web page design, Internet safety, and curriculum searches.
YouthLearn offers youth development professionals and educators comprehensive services and resources for using technology to create exciting learning environments.

GOOD READING

Community Networks: Lessons from Blacksburg, Virginia - by Andrew Cohill & Andrea Kavanaugh
New Community Networks: Wired for Change - an online book by Doug Schuler
Community Network Briefing Book - from Blacksburg Electronic Village
 

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