Scottish Information Landscape An overview from SLIC Elaine Fulton Director Scottish Library and Information Council

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Enabling seamless access Enabling Seamless Access, published by SLIC, 1999 National Information Policy All government services will be available online by 2005 Digital Scotland Initiatives

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Enabling seamless access ICT developments support the information needs of citizens Fast, convenient, seamless access to information for citizenship, work opportunities, health and learning Meet government’s agenda Develop an integrated networked environment, building on existing resources and infrastructure – CIE Highlighting the need for digital and information literacy Distributed environment

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Organising Information Standards, Interoperability and Access Working Group – SAGIA est May2000 Digital Scotland Organising Information, published by SLIC, 2001 People’s Network NGFL HE/FE programmes

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Organising Information Standards, Interoperability and Access Working Group – SAGIA est May2000 Digital Scotland Organising Information, published by SLIC, 2001 People’s Network NGFL HE/FE programmes

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Components for success The adoption of the Z39.50 interoperability standard and the compatible record format The implementation of e-GIF standards for the creation of electronic data for all government departments’ services and related agencies The development of a high level thesaurus for use in a Scottish context to facilitate subject searching across sectors A common scheme for describing the subject strengths of collections

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Components for success Securing access, authentication and user profiles – the best information services in the world are of no use if access cannot be had to them when needed The adoption of a web browser user interface with helper applications called up when needed A scheme for the assessment and branding of quality information sources – the portal concept Collaborative collection development of both electronic and traditional resources

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Short term aims Establish a widely based group to encourage and monitor the use of technical and quality related international standards. Establish a group to develop controlled vocabularies through thesaurus creation Develop and implement existing gateway software to deal with an agreed range of record formats

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Short term aims Develop a flexible user friendly interface which will guide users through the use of existing and developing portals Identify mechanisms to ensure that the various elements of information access are moved forward Identify capital and revenue costs for achieving interoperability, and ensure that existing funding from all sectors is used effectively

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Medium/Long term aims Promote standards and guidelines to content providers Develop standards in relation to international and technological developments Monitor the appropriateness of standards in the Scottish and international context Develop tools to improve the information handling skills of individuals

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Medium/Long term aims Secure core revenue funding to enable co- ordinated approaches Establishment of an overarching body which embraces interoperability and wider network issues and initiates an agreed co-ordinated approach to priorities

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Current landscape CAIRNS SCONE NOF DIGI COSMIC HE/FE content thro JISC programmes  HAIRST, HILT, SAPIENS, CC Interop SPEIR – Scottish Portals for Education Information and Research People’s Network SSDN – Scottish Schools Digital Network Distributed and re-useable content

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 SLIC’s mediating and supporting role  Encourage use of standards Leading by example East Dunbartonshire Project  Connexion  The future 21 st century government Blended learning Culture change National Licensing  Skills dependent Student, educationalist, joe public

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 What do we mean by information literacy More than technical skills More than being able to read Major skills gap – socially divisive Information literacy is a core life skill Participation in society, education and improve economic performance

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Key information competences Recognize the need for information Know how to access information Understand how to evaluate information Know How to synthesize information Be able to communicate information

Scottish Library and Information Council 2004 Information Handling Skills On- line course Partnership with Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, SUFI, SLIC Developed for partners by SFEU 23 generic learning objects 5 scenarios – aimed at post 16 Technology is not enough, content is not enough we need development of skills to manage and effectively retrieve the right information at the right time, place and pace.