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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>This announcement has been posted to
several lists. Our apologies for any duplication.</span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>*************************************************************************</span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>OPLIN and Video Services</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>At its February 13th meeting, the </span></font>OPLIN Board voted to
discontinue the underwriting of multipoint video scheduling services for public
libraries. Because we have been out of contract for several months now,
the impact of this decision is that we will discontinue scheduling multipoint
video conferences immediately. Conferences already scheduled will go on
as scheduled, but we will schedule no more conferences.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The Board believes that multipoint scheduling services are not a cost-effective
use of </span></font>OPLIN’s resources for several reasons:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>Costs continue to be high. The commitment we
would have to make to continue is double what we have been paying (with limited
use), or three times what we have been paying (for unlimited use).</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>Usage continues to be low. Even at current
rates, each conference costs thousands of dollars.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>Implementation has been slow. A very small
percentage of libraries have video units, and that number is not growing.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>Almost half of the units that do participate are not
in individual public libraries, but in state or regional offices. The
service was intended to benefit libraries.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>In other words,
demand is low and costs are high, which is not a good value equation.</span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>When public libraries began to implement video over IP (or H.323 video,
or Internet video) a few years ago, </span></font>OPLIN sponsored the
multipoint scheduling or “gateway” services. We did this to
encourage usage, and did not want fees for gateway services (usually a monthly
fee whether the service is used or not) to be a barrier to participation during
a time when it was uncertain what sort of content would be created for video.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Libraries with interactive video units can contact any other unit
point-to-point over the Internet with no intervention. Much of the usage
of video has been point-to-point in this manner, and has been used for meetings
and discussions. There are some notable exceptions. Kent State SLIS’s
distance learning program has been highly successful, and the gateway services
for that have been and will continue to be provided under the university
banner. </span></font>OPLIN’s decision will not impact that
program. There have also been a few excellent CE programs involving
multiple points. We hope the providers will explore other options and
continue to explore ways to use the technology effectively.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Libraries that wish to use gateway services have a number of options:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>DAS Network Services is adding H.323 and full
scheduling services to its gateway services. That service is $325 per
month per certified unit. You can find more information at <font
face=Helv><span style='font-family:Helv'><a
href="http://das.ohio.gov/itsd/telecom/vid.htm">http://das.ohio.gov/itsd/telecom/vid.htm</a>
</span></font>H.323 (IP) support is not yet listed but all other information
applies. They expect to have IP video service official in the next few
weeks. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>Dataserv has offered the services to their
customers in the past. They are currently not working directly with
individual schools and libraries for gateway services. However, they
expect that situation to be temporary. No cost data is available.
For information you could call them at <font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>800-276-6564.</span></font> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in'><font size=3
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>§<font
size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font>OARnet provides Kent State’s services.
Our impression is that they generally fold gateway services into their network
services to the universities that use video. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>For its part, </span></font>OPLIN will continue to configure library
network services for video Quality of Service, prioritizing video traffic when
in use. We will ourselves continue to use video in point-to-point mode
and will explore streaming and archiving in the coming months.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>OPLIN</span></font> Support Center</p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="mailto:support@oplin.org">support@oplin.org</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>614-728-5252</span></font></p>
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