These pages aim to help those planning local community networks - initiatives which provide some or all of Internet access, training, support, online content and community-building tools. We bring together two sets of tools which we hope are useful to those developing networks - workshop materials, and online resources.

The emphasis in these cards is on Net tools. See the general networking game for cards that use a mix of methods.

Workshop materials

These materials including a card 'game' which helps those developing networks discuss and plan what might be involved.

• Here's a general introduction to our planning games (you may have come from this page)
• The cards for community networks (pdf download 180 K). Right click and download the link (Windows) or option/alt click (Mac) otherwise Acrobat may load as a plug in and show the file on screen instead of downloading.
• Review general instructions for using the cards, plus other materials (or download a Word document 250K)

Online resources

This site contains a lot of resources for those developing community networks, with links to other sites.

• General information about community networks here.
• How to use the game in the development process for a community network.
• Key topics in the development process
• A toolbox of articles, tools and checklists

See also the Guide to Getting Communities Connected, developed by the Making the Network team.

We would really welcome feedback and ideas on developing the games further.
Please mail David Wilcox david@makingthenetwork.org