Computer experts say that being part ofthe Internet is like being part of a community.And like all users, Harvard has responsibilitiesto those with whom the University sharescyberspace.
Law is one of many computer experts who believethat Harvard has a responsibility to share itswealth with the world now that the Internet isavailable. Law says that while he understands thatHarvard must recoup the costs of maintaining itsnetwork, it also has a responsibility to make itsinformation resources publicly available.
"As far as universities are concerned, themodel has been to provide as much free access asyou can," Law says. "I think moving away from thatmodel would be a step backward."
But administrators say cost is a serious issue.
"I think one of the most complicated things ishow you pay for it," Rudenstine says. "Clearly,we're going to make a lot of it free and easilyaccessible. The only problem is to be able to findthe resources with which to do that."
In charting the future of the network, Harvardhas precious little guidance from the law orexisting regulations. As University Attorney AllanA. Ryan Jr. warned during on October conference atthe Law School, "the law is doing what it can, butthe users of technology are far ahead of thelawmakers."
"There are a great many legal questions and notmany legal answers," Ryan said in a recentinterview.
Members of the University community say Harvardmust now do two things to prepare for the future:discuss and set goals with students and faculty,and give more resources to campus networkingprojects as well as to financially-strapped HASCS.
And as it prepares for the future, theUniversity may have to give up part of itscompetitive advantage in information resources tomake up for its decided disadvantage in utilizingtechnology.
"Harvard strength in historical collections isunmatched and will continue to be unmatched,"Kelly-Milburn says.
"But Harvard's strength in utilizing technologyis behind other institutions," she adds. "We havesome catching up to do there."