Home | Public library services supporting 
lifelong learning (Summary)
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SCOPE

Issues dealt with in this guideline include:
The agenda of libraries in support of further and higher education, 
Digital literacy
Staff training 
Accreditation 

POLICY ISSUES 

Lifelong Learning addresses the needs of people of any age, class or gender, ranging from those with special needs enrolled in recognized courses and wanting to obtain support for their formal learning to people not enrolled in any course but wanting to improve their skills or to obtain a qualification at any time of their life and for any reason.

In order to play their part in Europe becoming the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-driven economy in the world, public libraries must be prepared to offer new and innovative services/activities that empower citizens to successfully achieve lifelong learning, helping to increase the number of qualified, skilled and fulfilled people in Europe.

Public libraries are not always accepted as part of the teaching and learning process. Decision makers often need to be convinced that public libraries are in fact key players in this context

Organisations such as IFLA and EBLIDA are helping to shape the professional and political discussion about the interrelation between public libraries and lifelong learning. 

IFLA describes the benefit of lifelong learning as follows:
"During the 20th century education [and knowledge] have become recognised as an individual right; for the individual, education and learning is a road to personal development and a richer life. Furthermore, a higher general level of education is a necessary prerequisite for economic growth and employment." IFLA 

The use of new IST tools for Lifelong Learning provides new opportunities but also increases the risk of social exclusion and the digital division of society, especially where competencies and motivation are lacking, or where people are not used to learning. New learning environments, involving eLearning and the connection of electronic and traditional teaching methods are needed for the implementation of this flexible and individualised learning. Personalised approaches, such as counselling, are often necessary.

There has already been significant investment by public libraries in some countries in training for staff to develop IST skills and in equipment which enables them to develop services in support of Lifelong Learning. Libraries need to take the opportunity to be included in this process of re-defining education in order to capitalise fully on this investment. 

e-Europe promotes digital literacy as one of the basic skills of all Europeans, since every citizen must be equipped with the skills to live and work in the information society. Public libraries have a key role to play in ensuring that Europe will not be divided into the digitally literate and illiterate. Reduced training costs, worldwide accessibility, and improved technological capabilities are making the electronic delivery of training to learners through public libraries a viable complement and alternative to, classroom instruction. Public libraries offer access to technology and particularly the Internet, especially for those people, who do not have a personal computer at home or at work. They often provide back up and coaching support by library staff, who are increasingly becoming experts in the use of IST.

The eEurope Action Plan includes a specific action to increase the number of Public Information Access Points (PIAP) - of which public libraries are a key example - which are necessary to reach potential users on a large scale, encouraging a first step to the Internet which may be a springboard for individual IST purchase. PIAP are seen as particularly useful for people needing extra help, such as on-site training.

At present, in most Member States the density of PIAP is below 1 per 10.000 inhabitants, but is being expanded in all Member States through a variety of approaches. Public libraries represent the most widespread and most visited location for PIAP. The potential for PIAP is much wider.

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINES

Public libraries are major learning resource centres. They should be the local learning place and champion of the independent learner. They can have an important focus for the community as a whole in providing facilities for informal and self-directed learning.

The development of these new services requires the establishment and maintenance of strong partnerships with local, regional, national, educational or cultural authorities and organisations. Collaboration should not involve only these decision-makers but education service providers such as colleges and universities, the business sector, local associations, vocational guidance services, research centres etc see eLearning: Designing tomorrow’s education.

There is also a requirement to provide access to and to package effectively a greater variety of good quality, relevant and attractive learning content to use within new IST-based learning environments. One important potential source of this content is material held by libraries, museums and archives, for example to support curricula on local studies, arts and the environment. 

Converting general precepts into a strategic framework which involves public libraries means that close account must be taken of existing differences in national systems and competitive environments in determining the range and types of services which public libraries should provide, for example:

• The United Kingdom has developed a strategy defining the role of on libraries in Lifelong Learning with funding programmes for content, training and infrastructure to enable its delivery. 

• In Portugal, public libraries already play a key role in relation to formal `and informal learning.

• Germany has a very well developed system of adult education institutions.

Among the specific areas of development for consideration by public libraries in support of Lifelong Learning are new services which may be provided in the library, on-line through websites or through other digital networks. They can be developed by the library itself or in partnership with the library and other cultural and educational organisations.

Home | Public library services supporting 
lifelong learning (Summary)
Full Text: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4