Digital Policy Institute and Ball State University Libraries Partnership in Strategic Information Initiatives

Ball State University Libraries, with support and cooperation from the Digital Policy Institute (DPI), contribute to the strategic information initiatives of the University, as President, Dr. Jo Ann M. Gora, recently observed, "… [a] new strategic planning process … will increase the momentum the university has generated and will set a course by which the university can become truly distinctive."

The fundamental strategy for achieving the University Libraries' programs, services, and collections is that the Libraries not only partner for success but also serve the University community as a destination for research, learning, and friends. Both success and service are an integral part of the Libraries’ involvement in the Digital Policy Institute.

The DPI was formed in 2004 with a Provost Initiative Grant that was written by Dr. Dominic G. Caristi, Dr. Alan R. Richardson, both of the Department of Telecommunications, and Dr. Robert E. Yadon, Center for Information and Communication Sciences. Since its inception, the DPI has enjoyed statewide recognition in its role of telecommunications reform in Indiana through its input on House Enrolled Act 1279. This act eliminated the monopoly of cable providers, giving most Hoosiers a choice in video service. In February 2007, the DPI released a study stating that Hoosiers could save a total of $262 million on their cable bills annually as a result of new choices.

The Digital Policy Institute serves the 21st century Ball State University academic community as an interdisciplinary association of faculty with a collective research interest. These interests include the structure of, and competition within, electronic communications industries and includes the public policy issues of digital creation, storage, transmission, reception, consumption and legal intellectual property protection of information including written, voice, data, still images, video and computer graphics.

The DPI acts as a vehicle for faculty research in the areas of law, regulation, economics, and technology as these relate to public policy issues of local, state and national interests. The University Libraries act as an adjunct in this service and fully supports and enhances these state-wide initiatives.

The DPI consists of a Board of Directors of three University deans:
Dr. Rodney E. Davis, Dean, Miller College of Business
Dr. Arthur W. Hafner, Dean, University Libraries
Dr. Roger M. Lavery, Dean, College of Communications, Information and Media

Since the DPI's inception, Fritz Dolak, Manager of the Copyright Office, has served as one of the Research Fellows. The complete list of DPI Research Fellows include:
Dominic G. Caristi, Associate Professor of Telecommunications
Cecil E. Bohanon, Professor of Economics
Jay E. Gillette, Professor of Information and Communication Sciences
Michael L. Hanley, Assistant Professor of Journalism
Stephan S. Jones, Director of CICS, Professor of Information and Communication Sciences
Alan R. Richardson, Professor of Telecommunications
Barry D. Umansky, J.D., Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Professor of Telecommunications
Robert E. Yadon, Professor of Information and Communication Sciences, Director of Applied Research Institute
Ryan R. Wolfgang, Research Associate

The University Libraries contributes to Ball State University's strategic information initiative through an active, collaborative, and collegial participation with the Digital Policy Institute that is truly distinctive.

For additional information about the DPI, including its White Papers, articles, audio interview and more, view www.bsu.edu/digitalpolicy.