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Libraries and LearningLibraries and Learning

UK policy and practiceUK policy and practice

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Aims of the EQUAL programmeAims of the EQUAL programme

EQUALis designed to test & promote new EQUALis designed to test & promote new ways of combating all forms of ways of combating all forms of discrimination and inequalities faced by discrimination and inequalities faced by those groups most disadvantaged in the those groups most disadvantaged in the labour market, both those in work and labour market, both those in work and those seeking work, through transnational those seeking work, through transnational cooperation. These groups include women, cooperation. These groups include women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, older workers, refugees, ex-offenders, older workers, refugees, ex-offenders, drugs and alcohol misusers. EQUAL will drugs and alcohol misusers. EQUAL will also include action to help the social and also include action to help the social and vocational integration of asylum seekers.vocational integration of asylum seekers.

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Leading principles of EQUALLeading principles of EQUAL

• PartnershipPartnership

• Thematic approach: Theme E – Promoting Thematic approach: Theme E – Promoting lifelong learning and inclusive work lifelong learning and inclusive work practices for those suffering discrimination practices for those suffering discrimination and inequalityand inequality

• TransnationalityTransnationality

• Empowerment/participationEmpowerment/participation

• InnovationInnovation

• Dissemination and MainstreamingDissemination and Mainstreaming

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We are at the intersection of We are at the intersection of three policy strandsthree policy strands

Lifelong LearningLifelong Learning

EmploymentEmployment

Social Social inclusioninclusion

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EU policyEU policy

• Full employment has always been a Full employment has always been a central preoccupation of EU policycentral preoccupation of EU policy

• Lifelong learning has been on the agenda Lifelong learning has been on the agenda for 15-20 yearsfor 15-20 years

• 1995 was European Year of Lifelong 1995 was European Year of Lifelong LearningLearning

• The Lisbon Summit of 2000 restated the The Lisbon Summit of 2000 restated the need for lifelong learning & pointed out need for lifelong learning & pointed out weaknesses in basic skillsweaknesses in basic skills

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eEurope Action PlaneEurope Action Plan

• A cheaper, faster and secure InternetA cheaper, faster and secure Internet• Investing in people and skillsInvesting in people and skills

– European youth into the digital ageEuropean youth into the digital age– Working in the knowledge based economyWorking in the knowledge based economy– Participation for all in the knowledge Participation for all in the knowledge

based economybased economy– Stimulate the use of the InternetStimulate the use of the Internet

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E-learning Action PlanE-learning Action Plan

• Encouragement of infrastructure Encouragement of infrastructure developmentdevelopment

• European area of lifelong learningEuropean area of lifelong learning

• Create local Learning Centres (in Create local Learning Centres (in universities and libraries)universities and libraries)

• Special efforts for disadvantaged Special efforts for disadvantaged peoplepeople

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European ProgrammesEuropean Programmes

All these activities to be carried out inAll these activities to be carried out in

ISTIST

FP6 (and 5)FP6 (and 5)

SocratesSocrates

Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci

PETRAPETRA

FORCEFORCE

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The UK: lifelong learningThe UK: lifelong learning

• Learning for the 21Learning for the 21stst Century Century

• The Learning Age (1998)The Learning Age (1998)– Learning in the communityLearning in the community– Making the most of librariesMaking the most of libraries– Quality StandardsQuality Standards

• Learning to SucceedLearning to Succeed

More coherent planning & funding, set up More coherent planning & funding, set up Learning & Skills CouncilLearning & Skills Council

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Basic SkillsBasic Skills

• A Fresh Start A Fresh Start (Moser, 1998)(Moser, 1998)– Found that 7m people in UK had poor literacy Found that 7m people in UK had poor literacy

and numeracy skillsand numeracy skills

Led to Led to Skills for Life,Skills for Life,the national strategythe national strategy

Which aims to improve basic skills of 750 000 Which aims to improve basic skills of 750 000 people by 2004people by 2004

These include unemployed, benefit claimants, These include unemployed, benefit claimants, low skilled people in employment, homeless low skilled people in employment, homeless people, refugees, asylum seekers, lone people, refugees, asylum seekers, lone parents, disadvantaged communities parents, disadvantaged communities

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Basic Skills (2)Basic Skills (2)

• Skills for Life strategy Skills for Life strategy sets up national sets up national standards, national testsstandards, national tests

• Funding through LSCs and Regional Funding through LSCs and Regional Development AgenciesDevelopment Agencies

• ABSSU to guide, train and supportABSSU to guide, train and support• This year, new This year, new Skills Strategy White Skills Strategy White

PaperPaperto give free learning to adults, adds ICT to give free learning to adults, adds ICT

as the third essential ‘skill for life’as the third essential ‘skill for life’

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Social InclusionSocial Inclusion

• In 1998, Government set up a Social In 1998, Government set up a Social Exclusion UnitExclusion Unit

• It identified main reasons as poverty It identified main reasons as poverty and lack of opportunityand lack of opportunity

• Stimulated Government towards Stimulated Government towards ‘Neighbourhood renewal’ policies‘Neighbourhood renewal’ policies

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Libraries and learning Libraries and learning infrastructureinfrastructure• Following the ‘Following the ‘Building he New Library Building he New Library

Network Network the the People’s Network People’s Network project was project was launched, to put computer internet launched, to put computer internet connections into every UK public library.connections into every UK public library.

• 2901 libraries are connected, i.e. 70%2901 libraries are connected, i.e. 70%• In our region 277 of 296 libraries are on, In our region 277 of 296 libraries are on,

but only 85 libraries (27%) have but only 85 libraries (27%) have broadbandbroadband

• The The Broadband Education Report Broadband Education Report calls for calls for all libraries to have broadband.all libraries to have broadband.

• Wi-fi ‘hotspots’ experimentsWi-fi ‘hotspots’ experiments

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e-Learninge-Learning

• UK Online – 6000 established centresUK Online – 6000 established centres

• Learndirect – wider range of Learndirect – wider range of provision, supported environment.provision, supported environment.

• Many centres in librariesMany centres in libraries

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Library structures and rolesLibrary structures and roles

• In UK, public libraries run by Local AuthoritiesIn UK, public libraries run by Local Authorities

• Most are associated with Education Most are associated with Education DepartmentsDepartments

• Mainstream Education policies, especially Mainstream Education policies, especially towards schools, Adult & Community towards schools, Adult & Community education (but not FE or HE)education (but not FE or HE)

• Government Department responsible for Government Department responsible for libraries is DCMS, Advised by Resource, the libraries is DCMS, Advised by Resource, the Council for Museums, Archives and LibrariesCouncil for Museums, Archives and Libraries

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Other policy trendsOther policy trends

• Empowering the Learning Empowering the Learning Community Community

• Libraries for All – Libraries for All – social inclusionsocial inclusion

• Inspiring Learning for All Inspiring Learning for All is currently is currently developing Resource programmedeveloping Resource programme– Learning Outcomes ToolkitLearning Outcomes Toolkit

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Framework for the FutureFramework for the Future

• Framework Framework is essentially a ‘vision is essentially a ‘vision piece’ by DCMSpiece’ by DCMS

• It focuses on libraries’ role in It focuses on libraries’ role in developing reading and learning, developing reading and learning, digital skills and services, community digital skills and services, community cohesion and civic values.cohesion and civic values.

Appears to offer no new fundingAppears to offer no new funding

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Other learning AgenciesOther learning Agencies

• Adult Basic Skills Strategy UnitAdult Basic Skills Strategy Unit

• NIACE (National Intitute for Adult & NIACE (National Intitute for Adult & Community Education)Community Education)

• NGfL (National Grid for Learning)NGfL (National Grid for Learning)

• University for IndustryUniversity for Industry

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Funding for LearningFunding for Learning

• Learning & Skills Councils – funding & Learning & Skills Councils – funding & planning education and training for planning education and training for over 16 year olds.over 16 year olds. £8bn funding £8bn funding (2003-4). Includes Adult & (2003-4). Includes Adult & Community Learning.Community Learning.

• EEDA (East of England Dvelopment EEDA (East of England Dvelopment Agency) works on skills with LSCs. Agency) works on skills with LSCs. Produces an Action Plan (FRESA)Produces an Action Plan (FRESA)

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Local networksLocal networks

• Information, Advice and Guidance Information, Advice and Guidance networks – often involve librariesnetworks – often involve libraries

• Local Learning PartnershipsLocal Learning Partnerships

• Neighbourhood Learning Neighbourhood Learning PartnershipsPartnerships

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Issues for LibrariansIssues for Librarians

• Are libraries happy with their role in learning?Are libraries happy with their role in learning?• Do they want to move into accredited learning?Do they want to move into accredited learning?• National Skills curriculum/National Tests?National Skills curriculum/National Tests?• Should they train staff as tutors?Should they train staff as tutors?• Funding becomes more complicated – ‘core Funding becomes more complicated – ‘core

funding’, national & regional project funding, funding’, national & regional project funding, Euro fundingEuro funding

LearnEast is trying to deal with at least some of LearnEast is trying to deal with at least some of these issues in its mainstreaming activity.these issues in its mainstreaming activity.