In the UK, US and around the world hundreds - maybe thousands - of towns, villages and cities have a presence on the Internet. Sometimes this is a modest Web site created by a local enthusiast. Sometimes the public authority is committed to providing information and services online for its citizens. Increasingly commercial interests see local community as a good market for e-commerce transactions linked to directories and news of events and organisations. Here are a just a few links to help you explore community networking. We'll be adding more soon. In the US The Association For Community Networking http://www.afcn.net AFCN is a membership organisation for those who pioneered community networks in the 1980s and 1990s, and who are championing the benefits the Internet University of Michigan http://databases.si.umich.edu/cfdocs/community/index.cfm The School of Information Community Networking Initiative has a site rich in content and contacts NCexChange NETworker Project http://www.ncexchange.org/networker/lessonslearned.html The NCExchange project has documented hard-won lessons Learned from a two-year demonstration project that promoted community-wide networking strategies for four communities in North Carolina. It describes the challenges of an emerging new profession which requires a unique combination of technology and people skills. It shares what worked best (networking the NETworkers, for example) and doesn't hesitate to describe the difficulties (such as "it's hard to serve two masters") as well. Blacksburg Electronic Village Blacksburg is one of the oldest Internet-based community networks in the US and has over 60% of citizens online. Their site offers a wealth of 'how to' material and a second edition of their excellent book is now avilable as a free download from the publisher NCexChange NETworker Project: Guiding Principles http://www.ncexchange.org/networker/lessonslearned.html For those communities who want to take the next step beyond the strategy of "technology-driven" infrastructure and funding disconnected silos,these guiding principles may be good starting point. Customize for your needs. Building blocks Terry Grunwald has assembled this long list of 'building blocks' that might make up a community networking project. In the UK Communities Online http://www.communities.org.uk/ Communities Online promotes exchange of experience between those working in local online and nonprofit organisations. There's news and resources on the site. Their Networksection provides instructions on how to join the useful conet discussion list. BBC Webwise http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise BBC Webwise - famed for Computers Don't Bite and other programmes - is developing material specifically for communities. See the case studies, features, building blocks, features and message boards for discussion. BBC Online is the most popular content site in Europe, and is developing high levels of interaction through its Getting Talking section. Virtual communities http://virtualcommunities.start4all.com/ Gerrit Visser has developing a terrific site of links about virtual communities, and also one on working online http://workingvirtually.start4all.com Partnerships Online http://www.partnerships.org.uk The Partnerships Online site contains a substantial section about online communities, including: What are the different types of online community? Communities of interest, locality and organisation. Where are there online communities? Links to online communities - both local and virtual, UK and global. Why consider creating an online community What are the benefit for your neighbourhood, town or village? How did community networking start in the UK? Stories from some of the people who first found inspiration from US networks. how to / connect communities