NREN for All: Insurmountable Opportunity

"NREN for All: Insurmountable Opportunity" by Jean Armour Polly is a scientific publication written in the early 1990s. The book discusses the National Research and Education Network (NREN), highlighting its potential to enhance access to information and collaboration in various fields, particularly for those in underserved, rural areas. Polly explores the implications of NREN and its capability to bridge educational divides through technology. In her analysis, Polly emphasizes the challenges that may arise with the implementation of NREN, particularly focusing on accessibility, privacy, and the role of public libraries in this new digital landscape. She poses critical questions regarding how individuals, especially children in remote areas, will access these new technologies and resources. Throughout the publication, Polly advocates for the importance of public libraries as vital access points to high-speed internet, while also recognizing the financial and infrastructural hurdles they face. The book ultimately serves as a call to action for ensuring equitable access to information technology and the preservation of library services in the face of evolving digital demands. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Jean Armour Polly is a librarian and the author of an early series of books on safe Internet services, Surfing the Internet.. She has been an active Internet user since 1991. In 2019, she was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame. She was Director of Public Services and Internet Ambassador at NYSERNet, Inc (1992–1995). She has served on the Internet Society Board of Trustees (1993–1996) and on the ICANN At-Large Advisory Council (ALAC) (2004–2006), as well as on the board of ICRA.