Learning and development

Public Libraries have a major role to play in creating learning communities. In the UK,

the Learn Direct initiative, formerly University for Industry, has public library involvement

either as learning centres or as information centres for the scheme. A long tradition of

links with the Open University provides the foundation for such partnership work, and

this is further in evidence in the new relationship with Learning and Skills Councils

which are responsible for delivering post 16 education, both formally and informally. 

Gates Centres, such as that at Windsor, Ontario are used by the public library to train

the public in ICT skills. Volunteers often deliver this training. At Street in Somerset, 

volunteers from the Self Help Centre are available in the library at predetermined times

to provide assistance for users. In the United States, Friends Groups perform the same

role at many libraries. In Australia, a very effective peer model is being developed, in

particular with senior citizens. Brisbane Seniors Online (BSOL) has formed a partner 

ship with the library to provide one on one training in the library, and a similar scheme

has been running very successfully for some time in Canberra. Other peer schemes being

investigated by Brisbane City Council Library Services are with young people and

indigenous groups.

In Singapore, the training of the public is done en masse using the facilities of the

National Library Board in partnership with another company. Over 90,000 people have

been trained in eighteen months at the ONE Learning Place located at Toa Payoh 

Community Library. This one stop training centre is collaboration between the National

Computer Board (NCB) and the National Library Board (NLB). ONE Learning Place

offers training in Singapore ONE and Internet, as well as information literacy skills to

students and adults, and builds on the successful formula of the NCB s past mass training.

The course runs for over 6 hours and has a minimal charge. 

Tampere Library is responsible for Netti Nysse, the Internet bus that provides access

and training to the people of Tampere. There are 10 computers on the bus, which uses

microwave technology for Internet access. Four library staff members provide the train 

ing programs offered. The bus seats 10 15 people, and is used at festivals and special

events, as well as at a regular timetable of stops.

Leeds Public Library has designed the council s website to have a community focus. It

compiles all community governance material such as community plans, focus groups,

consultation, etc. More excitingly, space will be made available for the community to

create their own pages about the area, groups, businesses, etc., and distance learning

packages will also be linked up to enable people to extend their lifelong learning 

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