Library services have been invited to play a vital role in the UK-wide London 2012 Games Maker volunteer programme by promoting the online recruitment of up to 70,000 volunteers. This provides an opportunity for libraries to showcase their role in supporting their communities by increasing digital inclusion, fostering informal learning and promoting local volunteering.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) launched the London 2012 Games Maker programme yesterday (27 July 2010). It is the largest post-war volunteer recruitment campaign in the UK to attract, train and retain dedicated and inspirational people representative of the diversity of London and the UK for a wide variety of roles in the official London 2012 venues, hotels, ports of entry and other support areas.
Libraries are uniquely positioned in local communities to help people find out if they have what it takes to be a London 2012 Games Maker by stocking promotional information, offering internet access to the new information-packed website at www.london2012.com/volunteering and, from 15 September 2010, to the online application form for those that do not have access to a computer either at home or work.
Assisting with the London 2012 Games Maker programme is another example of the MLA commitment to secure positive digital outcomes for people. Libraries already encourage digital literacy amongst the public, build their confidence and ability to regularly visit online volunteer website for updates and information. By supporting the London 2012 Games Maker programme the MLA is helping to inspire volunteering in the community up to and beyond the summer of 2012.
LOCOG is supporting the work of libraries by producing an online marketing toolkit of posters and leaflets for libraries to print off and display, with a fresh range of posters available from 9th August. Please contact isobel.siddons@mla.gov.uk for details.
Further information about the Games Maker programme can be found at www.london2012.com/volunteering
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Museums Libraries and Archives (MLA) has become an advocate of Race Online and committed to getting half a million more people online through public libraries.
The Race Online 'Networked Nation' manifesto sets out plans to inspire and encourage all UK citizens to enjoy the benefits of the web. Visit http://raceonline2012.org/manifesto