To: Heads of State Agencies and Human Resource Directors

Subject: Special Announcements Now Available On Web

Issue Date: July 30, 1996

Special Announcements now available on Civil Service Web site
Special Announcements are now available on the Louisiana Department of State Civil Service Web site (the address is http://www.dnr.state.la.us/~cs/). Special Announcements are listings of specific job vacancies that are published approximately every two weeks. All of the information available on the hard copy Special Announcement will be available on the Internet version, in a slightly different format. The Special Announcement can be accessed by clicking on "Job Opportunities" off of our home page, and then clicking on "Special Announcements" off of that page.

Earlier this month, we had added job specifications to our site, in response to considerable demand from our clients, and in past months, had added summaries of divisions within the department, pay levels of jobs, information on how to apply for a job, testing, etc. We feel adding the special announcements to our Web site is in keeping with our goal of using the Internet to help us provide the highest level of service possible to our clients.

How to Gain Access to the Internet
Now that the Job Specifications, Special Announcements, and a wide variety of other information is available on the Civil Service Home Page, we are receiving many inquiries from Human Resources offices regarding how to gain access to the Internet. Because of the wide variety of agencies that we serve, there are varying degrees of familiarity with the Internet and of the technical support available among our clients.

In its very simplest form, the basic equipment needed is as follows:

1. A Personal Computer. Preferably with a minimum of a 486 class processor and 8MB of RAM. Computers with less capability will work, but will be slower.

2. A modem. A 28.8 bps modem is preferred but a 14.4 bps modem will work.

3. A telephone line. You can share the one that you use for voice communications.

4. An account with an Internet service provider.
The state Office of Telecommunications Management (OTM) now offers very low-cost dial-up access to the Internet through their Linknet service. The current cost for Linknet dial-up access is $15.00/month and is available to state agencies and other political subdivisions of the state. Linknet comes with an Internet browser (Netscape) and software for accessing mainframe computers. The request for Linknet service is generally made through your agency's telecommunications coordinator. If you have any questions regarding Linknet, contact OTM at (504) 342-4860. There are also private companies in most parts of the state that offer Internet access for monthly rates that are in the $20.00 per month range.

As mentioned earlier, we work with a wide variety of state agencies and many of the major agencies have Information Services (IS or MIS) or Data Processing Departments. They may not be aware of the need for Internet access in the Human Resources Office. Please follow the appropriate procedure for soliciting their help in gaining access. They may already have a plan in place that will provide this service to you.

Sincerely,

Allen H. Reynolds
Acting Director