Information Scotland

The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland

April 2003 Volume 1 (2)

President's perspective

Claiming our territory

A conference in Wales and other events highlight that IT capability is as crucial as literacy and numeracy, finds Alistair Campbell.

Early March, and the road and miles to Dundee for the national launch of the People's Network in Scotland. A virtual launch, no less, when in tripartite wooing of the media Anniesland, Dundee and Oban were linked by video conferencing. And what a satisfactory morning it was, the Minister Dr Elaine Murray, and the Chair of SLIC, Rhona Brankin, proving to be articulate and enthusiastic advocates for libraries and learning. And our Director, Elaine Fulton, a SOAP star at last!

Cliché, or not, the People's Network is the biggest thing to happen to public libraries since Andrew Carnegie, and yes it should also be a pretty big thing for other types of libraries if it's being developed and delivered appropriately. A robust ICT network, locally and nationally, is almost in place.

The last boxes and pieces of spaghetti are finally being connected by those authorities at the mercy of BT's inadequate rural provision. Library staff across the country have been trained in ICT, developed to assist others in its use and some are now qualified to deliver even wider learning opportunities to existing and new library users.

And the fundamental challenges of high quality content are being addressed. We are already seeing: excellent local heritage material; co-ordinated online reference provision via the NOF residue funding; key topic gateways; effective children's and teenage portals; authorities preparing their own online learning material; the identification and accessing of relevant learning content; and the commitment to reader development to encourage greater use of traditional services.

And underpinning this, as evidenced by the Public Library Heads of Service meeting in mid March, a commitment to genuine inter-authority working which seeks national solutions to providing relevant content and reducing unnecessary duplication while allowing for local needs and emphases. Will the vision of nationally guaranteed levels of information provision become a reality? I hope so.

Libraries as learning centres and learning points, some as Learndirect Scotland Centres, as ECDL centres, as SQA centres, often in partnership with local colleges and other providers with a re-trained and re-energised staff? - Yes.

Libraries as key outlets in the social inclusion and modernising government agendas? - Yes. Library and Information Services tasked with responsibility for council information and council websites? - Yes. A new recognition within local authorities of the importance of organised, high quality information, managed by library professionals? - Yes. Absolute recognition of the power of partnership? - Yes.

These are just some of the characteristics of the brave new world of the People's Network where the rate of change has been incredible. And no doubt the implementation was exhausting, but the opportunities are exhilarating. And I suspect that the core elements of enhanced application of ICT, refocused services, the management of change, increased partnership working and new emphasis on lateral thinking typify many other library sectors in recent years.

That is why I was delighted at Dundee to record a genuine appreciation of the commitment of library staff to the Network. The following day provided the icing on the cake when my own authority confirmed a new career and salary structure for all public library staff because of the Network.

"Lovely the woods, waters, meadows, combes, vales". Mid March and the pleasure of attending the Welsh conference at Llandidrod Wells, bang in the middle of Wales, the theme '24/7, opening up access'. The hospitality was excellent, and the conference content stimulating, in that our Welsh colleagues have similar challenges to our own. And while their professional infrastructure is relatively strong and there is a sound commitment to co-operation, their services lack the organisational infrastructure that we enjoy in Scotland because of SLIC.

The key themes included resource sharing for the future, health information for all, reader development and co-operation between the FE/HE and public libraries as in North Wales. This latter development might well benefit from the experiences of the Ayrshire Library Forum which has made great achievements in delivering integrated lifelong learning and information opportunities across the sectors.

Learning Centres and ICT literacy developments in the most deprived areas of Bridgend via their Life centres was of particular interest. Provision also includes a mobile learning centre with satellite technology. Ah, if only we could guarantee that this would work in Glenlivet, Knockando or Cardhu, where the local atmospheres have a particularly unsteadying effect on clear and focused reception!

The key paper was by Sheila Corrall, President of CILIP, on the theme of 'Developing Information Capability'. We have in the last 150 years moved from the industrial society to the so called information society, and yet so many of our citizens lack the fundamental skills to find, organise, interpret and use appropriate information.

Who better than the library profession to address this problem? This shouldn't be new territory, but it should be our territory, and our opportunity to develop appropriate initiatives and associated qualifications at a national level.

And these are surely equally as important and as deserving of funding as the current national initiatives on literacy and numeracy. Now, there's a test of our negotiating skills!

Information Scotland Vol. 1 (2) April 2003

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Last updated: 12 February 2004