Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix > Fife - Taste IT

The initiative started in October and was to address an area for improvement identified as a result of Fife’s Public Library Quality Improvement Pilot. Whilst the learners’ experiences were good, there was inequity of access to library-based learning across the authority and Taste IT set out to increase access and provision. Laptops were purchased and e-Citizen software installed to provide flexible and transportable equipment for the taster sessions, aimed at introducing more of the public in Fife to IT.

Contacts were made with local groups and organisations who were willing to work alongside staff to deliver sessions in community venues. A "How to run a taster session" programme was developed for staff and delivered to 32 people. The feedback from these from staff is positive and will be continued after the end of the project. Within the first few weeks, over 300 enquiries were received from learners.

The first four week courses were completed by 4th November. There were 37 learners (11 are young people) in these first few courses. There are 13 taster sessions packs already developed and other ideas continue to be discussed and developed. The number of enquiries is huge and, as the central taster team are inundated, community library staff have been encouraged to run the sessions themselves. The central team will provide training and support for theses members of staff.

Folders have been produced for every community library with all the taster packs, support materials and CD ROMs.

Monitoring of impact continues across a wide range of indicators, including: numbers of hours, learners, venues used, courses completed and sessions; retention rates; and feedback.