Transcript No Slide Title

Aberdeenshire Library and
Information Service
Delivering ICT and Information to
Rural Communities
Anne Harrison & Helen Dewar
Aberdeenshire Library and
Information Service
1 Background and challenges for ICT
and how Aberdeenshire tried to
address some of these – Anne
Harrison
2. NOF CALL Tutor Project – Helen
Dewar
Background
 Rural authority - North East Scotland
 Integrated library service - schools
and public
 36 libraries
 6 mobile libraries
 17 academies incl 3 community
libraries
Challenges for ICT
 Public access to ICT
 Staff numbers and spread
 Keeping up with the technology
 New resources – NOF funded / ALIS
funded
 New initiatives – eg reader
development
How Aberdeenshire
addressed these challenges
 User guides developed to access the
PN and the resources
 Launched GO@L (go online at
libraries)
 Staff ICT training and support
Reader development
The Future
 Intranet developments
 Staff skills
 Partnerships / Shared vision
Aberdeenshire Library and Information Service (ALIS)
Community access to lifelong
learning(CALL)
Tutor Project
Aberdeenshire Library and Information Service
ICT and Rural Inclusion
•Demography of Aberdeenshire
•Background to the project
•Scope of project
•Current position
•Future challenges
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Aberdeenshire Library and Information Service
ICT and Rural Inclusion
Background
 National objectives –
– Digital Inclusion : infrastructure created
• Peoples Network
• NOF Training for Library Staff (ECDL; Scotia)
 ALIS restructured
– advantages of joint service (Lifelong Learning)
– New posts required
• Information Literacy Librarian
• 2 part time Learner Support Tutors
Aberdeenshire Library and Information Service
ICT and Rural Inclusion
Background
 Participation in the Scottish Learning
Network Project.
 Gained understanding of adult learners and
their needs.
 Desire for libraries to develop learning role
 Learning partners
– experience of bids
– willing to work alongside us
Aberdeenshire Library and Information Service
ICT and Rural Inclusion
Background
 Met with partners to prepare NOF/
CALL Bid – gap analysis
 Funding granted by NOF and staff
appointed August 2002 to develop the
project
Aberdeenshire Library and Information Service
ICT and Rural Inclusion
Scope of the project
Key role information handling/ literacy
Complementary to other provision
Free
Flexible
One to one and small group
Gateway to other learning providers ILPs
Customer base – target specific groups
36 Access points
Aberdeenshire Library and Information Service
ICT and Rural Inclusion
Current position
 Supported ICT sessions are available in all
36 branches in Aberdeenshire
– Branch staff receive additional hours to provide
dedicated supported ICT sessions to learners
– Each branch is allocated a ‘budget’ of hours and plans
activities and sessions over the year according to local
circumstances and demand.
 Promotes rural inclusion
– Access points in rural communities across
Aberdeenshire
– Social benefits of taking part in training
– Development of skills
– Access to information
NOF client groups
 Adults – no ready access to ICT
 Rural
 Parents
 Disabled
 Ethnic minorities
Uptake
 Target August 2003 – July 2004
500 learners accessing the project
 Actuals
May 2004
535 learners attending courses
600 using self study material
Advantages for customer
 Free
 Flexible
 One to one
 Small group
 Community building
Advantages for tutor
 Job satisfaction – scope to develop
the project
 Free from constraints of delivering
accredited learning
 Preparing own materials – keep it
simple
 Customer confidence
Quality control
 Training
 Learning materials
 Network meetings
 Reporting
Capacity building
 Access points – partner use
 Referrals
 Links to ALIS projects
literacy
homework clubs
Bookstart/Surestart
Careers development
ALIS - checklist
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Balance formal and informal learning opportunities
Peer /Staff led training and support
Incentives to stimulate uptake- goody bags
Offer try-it activities to attract previously excluded
groups
 Facilities comfortable and non threatening
 Internet as vehicle for re-skilling and lifelong
learning
 Develop relevant need focused content – content
user led
Users come to
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Learn to use a computer
Send email to family and friends
Pursue hobby on internet
Meet other people and make new friends
Improve confidence with ICT
Build upon existing ICT knowledge
Increase employability
Enhance career progression
Develop skills to help others
Get back to learning
Acquire new skills
ALIS offers
 Convenient location
 Supportive environment – gentle tailored
approach to learning – at own pace as well as info
on learning options and personal dev support
 Respond to learner needs – opt in and out
 Links to other activities to attract excluded
 Actively using new skills ( staff)
 New attitude to learning and progression( staff)
 Community and social links – meet new people
Sustainability and the future
 Outreach
 Marketing and programmes of events
 Higher education links
 Community Learning and
Development Plan
 Community Plan