National Digital Promise for Public Libraries
The Society of Chief Librarians has agreed a Digital Promise for public libraries, setting the minimum standard for delivery of digital services in libraries.
The Society of Chief Librarians announces a National Digital Promise for public libraries in Wales, England and Northern Ireland that will set the standard for digital access in libraries. This Promise sets a minimum standard of digital resources available in the more than 4000 libraries across the UK.
Key promises made in the National Digital Promise include:
free access to the internet in every library (for a minimum period)
24/7 access to a virtual library online
library staff trained to help people to go online
the ability to join a library online, and much more.
For many people in the UK, the local public library is the only source of access to digital information. Many libraries offer free one-to-one online tuition for customers. Many libraries are linking local IT volunteers with customers who need help going online. This is not only helping people learn how to go online, but also helping them to make full use of the many local council services which are now online.
Nicky Parker, President of SCL, said: “With this Digital Promise we hope to expand and improve the standard of online resources in libraries both now and for the future.”
In the past year more than a million people have been helped to go online for the first time in their local library.