People's Network ICT Training for Public Library Staff Programme
The ICT Training for Public Library Staff programme, launched in
1999 has allocated £20 million to ensure that all public library
staff are equipped with the necessary skills to be able use
Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) that were
implemented as part of the People's Network project and be able
to help library users to get the most out of them too. There are
appromimately 40,000 public library staff in the UK.
Full details about the Programme are provided in the Guidance document (RTF 101KB)
 which was originally issued by The Fund at the
start of the programme. For an alternative overview of the
training programme take a look at this short Flash clip .
A formal evaluation of the programme has been conducted by the
Tavistock Institute. The report,'Competencies and Capabilities:
New Paradigms for Workforce Development in the 21st Century
Library' published by MLA is available through our Publications section .
Overview of the training
The £20 million programme has equipped all library staff,
regardless of their role and previous levels of training and/or
experience, with skills in 8 core areas:
- A grounding in core ICT fundamentals
- Understanding how ICT can support library staff in their
work
- Health and safety and legal issues in the context of ICT
- Knowing how to find things out on behalf of users
- Using ICT to support reader development activities
- Using ICT to support users to ensure effective learning
- Ensuring effective management of ICT resources in libraries
- Knowing how to use ICT to improve their own professional
efficiency and to reduce administrative an bureaucratic
burdens
Libraries have also used the funding available to train staff to
more advanced levels. Advanced roles encompass the five roles
set out in the Library and Information Commission's report
called Building the New Library Network, which are:
- Net navigator - in-depth searching skills; validating Web
sites; and using alerting services;
- Information technology gatekeeper - web design skills;
mounting and updating information; setting up and managing
email databases; designing specialist interfaces; and
setting up digital links;
- Information consultant - analysis and diagnosis of users
needs; awareness of information sources; building
partnerships with other information providers; and
information design and presentation;
- Information manager - strategic planning; understanding
regulatory and legislative requirements; content creation
skills; and
- Educator - training other staff and users to use ICT
effectively and designing learning materials and programmes.
Additional programme information
Further information about the process of applying for and
obtaining approval to begin training is featured in the application phase summary
document (RTF 160KB)
Training Programme FAQs
(RTF 26KB)
A summary of best practice found in
library training plans and a selection of training plan exemplars are
also available. See also details about funding for the programme and
a selection of useful links relating to
staff training.
Supplementary advice and information issued to library services
during the course of the programme:
Key messages and advice
about the Programme (RTF 89KB)
Revised Annual Monitoring
Form (RTF 243KB)
Flow Chart of Key
Activities to assist with planning (RTF 68KB)
Review Proforma to
update your training plan (Excel 23KB)
Guidance notes to
accompany Review Proforma (Word 66KB)
Interim Survey of Training
to Meet 2-8 to Advanced Levels of the Programme, June 2002.
(PDF 779KB)
Brief inviting tenders for
assessing the impact of the ICT Staff Training Programme
(PDF 179KB) (issued Sept 2002 for submission in Nov
2002)
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