Students to soon access information sharing site

By Robert Gold

Daily Staff Reporter

Anyone with Internet access may soon be able to explore University-owned photographs, diaries, faculty lectures and other items free of charge. The University announced yesterday it joined Fathom.com, a Website that provides Internet users with academic resources for no fee.

"As one of the nation's great public universities, we are excited to have the University come on board," Fathom vice president of business development Ryan Craig said.

Fathom members include Columbia University, The British Library, The University of Chicago and the American Film Institute. The online company formed at Columbia University before branching off in April.

University President Lee Bollinger sent an e-mail to faculty Tuesday, explaining the reason for joining Fathom.

"Increasingly, institutions around the country and indeed, the globe, are forming partnerships in the e-education area. My sense has been that we would benefit by joining with those institutions we admire and respect," Bollinger said in the e-mail.

"We ought to be concerned that opportunities to form partnerships may narrow over time and that institutions that are early participants will more likely succeed in the long term."

Faculty members can submit lectures, research, seminars, videos and other information on the Website. Bollinger said in his e-mail that no one is required to submit material and that the Website attributes the source of all posted information.

Craig said the company gives faculty and other scholars the chance to distribute their work internationally. Contributors are compensated for their work.

"Faculty won't need to go work for whatever dot.com (company recruits) them that week," Craig said.

James Hilton, special assistant to the provost for media rights, said the University will be able to explore what happens when traditional and online education mix.

Craig said the company now plans on recruiting members in Asia and Europe.

"For now, Michigan is probably one of the last institutions we'll add" in the United States and United Kingdom, Craig said.

While much on Fathom.com is free of charge, users can sometimes sign up for online courses and buy software and books related to specific posted articles. Hilton said the Website might eventually offer text books and online courses in the future.

"Right now, our focus is not on delivering courses to Fathom," Hilton said.