Community benefits of e - technology Peter Marchant Head of Libraries Knowsley Library Service

Profile of Knowsley Population 154,000 East of Liverpool in Merseyside Objective One Status Index of Deprivation

Knowsley is typified by :- A large child population High number of households where no-one is working Low car ownership High levels of benefit dependency An educationally disadvantaged adult population High numbers of pupils with special education needs Poor attendance in secondary schools

Key Factors Lack of qualifications main barrier Training in computing increasing chances of employment Lack of mobility Employers need ICT related skills Dependent on public-access facilities Community Information Programme

Learning Resource Centres ICT hardware / software / information super-highway Free access / 120 computers in 7 libraries Over 95,000 users in the past year Key feature - staff support Drop in ICT facilities for all sectors of the community Open access training facilities Drop in facilities for the Small Medium Enterprise sector

Lifelong Learning using ICT Informal and formal educational opportunities Drive to re-skill the local workforce ECDL qualification in IT Library staff acting as moderators / assessors 85 people trained who obtained ICT qualifications Learndirect

Regeneration through employment Excellent job search facilities Empathy, trust and respect Supporting unemployed people to use ICT in order to secure employment 50 Residents gaining employment Growth in revenue budget

Supporting Small-Medium Enterprise (SME) facilities Skilling the community to compete ICT hardware, software and training facilities Company Information Business related software Business link and their expert advice Over 100 businesses supported in Halewood

Study Support Involving young people and the whole family in a holistic view of learning Multimedia networked PCs Free Internet access Staff guidance and support Free printing and photocopying facilities Virtual information service Excellence in Cities Initiative Serving over 40,000 visits by pupils in the past year

New Deal Scheme Supporting the Government’s New Deal initiative Participants offered work placements after 6 months Encouraging the community’s use of ICT 8 people obtained ICT related jobs in the past year 5 people obtained permanent jobs in the library service

Creche facilities Supporting women with young children Working with Early Years and Childcare Partnership Mobile creche offered on a weekly basis Taster sessions Progression to accredited courses Over 50 people benefited so far

Braille transcription service Access to information for visually impaired people Free publicly available transcription service Community contacts / links with other services Serving individuals / other Council departments Over 70 documents created in the last year

Disaffected pupils project Students excluded from mainstream education behavioural problems bullying pregnancy Encouraging use of ICT facilities Completed Open Learning for Children packages Regular library members Returned to full-time education Over 30 young people gaining personal and social development in the past year Cost to Education Authority of excluded pupils

Future Developments Family Learning Centre - quiet study areas - play areas - facilities to watch films and listen to music - activity based areas Virtual Library

Peter Marchant Head of Libraries Contact Details