Networking knowledge

The Knowledge Web is a new initiative designed to both significantly enhance the long-term impact of government support for the creation of digital content, and to increase public access to that content.

By 2009:

• The Knowledge Web will seamlessly link collections distributed across the country, giving easy access by users to millions of items of digitised content. Knowledge will be extracted, reassembled and presented as personalised answers to specific questions.

• A comprehensive public infrastructure including wireless and cellular technologies will allow access to the Knowledge Web when and where required.

• Close links with the broadcast media will provide powerful new methods for the popularisation of the knowledge museums libraries and archives contain.

• The Knowledge Web will link individuals to create communities of interest where creativity and scholarship can be shared.

The Knowledge Web builds on the unprecedented success of the lottery-funded People's Network, which has linked all 4,200 public libraries in the UK to the internet with trained staff on hand to offer help and advice. The programme has been managed by MLA and delivered on time, and in budget. By offering free and easy broadband access to the internet in a safe and trusted environment, the People's Network is bridging the digital divide and opening up universal public access to online content. MLA is aiming to extend the People's Network to enable the same opportunities to be offered in museums and archives.

The Knowledge Web will build on this unique infrastructure, on the skills and experiences of staff working in the knowledge and information sector, and on the unique collections held in museums, libraries and archives to build an innovative new information gateway, tailored to users' needs.

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Towards the future

The Knowledge Web will promote co-operation in the creation, integration and management of digital content, enabling relatively low levels of additional investment to boost the creation of the knowledge society and achieve a significantly higher take up of online services, generating an increased demand for domestic broadband access. Unfettered access to the resources of our museums, libraries and archives and the wider cultural sector will encourage more tourists to Britain, just as it will provide inspiration and learning to citizens at every stage of their lives. Today, with museums, libraries and archives at the heart of our communities, the Knowledge Web will help make the knowledge society accessible to all by creating ICT Learning Centres in museums and archives. MLA will build upon the achievements of the People's Network, to sustain access for all to lifelong learning opportunities.

Initial prototyping for the Knowledge Web is already being undertaken by MLA and a range of partners, including JISC, NHS, The British Library, The National Archives and the eScience Programme of the Research Councils.  In addition, the launch of the  People's Network online services , Enquire, Discover and Read, represent an important demonstration of the potential of Knowledge Web strategies

For further information please contact David Dawson , Head of Digital Futures.

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