Chris Batt Chief Network Adviser Library and Information Commission

Chris BattChief Network Adviser

Library and Information Commission

PEOPLE’S NETWORK DEVELOPMENT TEAM

• Chris Batt

• David Potts

• Susi Woodhouse

• AN Other

THE MISSION

“To improve the quality of life for all citizens by facilitating the creation of the People’s

Network as a sustainable network of access points/learning centres that will provide a national gateway or channel co-ordinating all public sector information resources.”

THE MONEY

• NOF - £170m (plus £100m)

• CMF - £500m

ACTIVITIES

• Funding sources/regimes

• Information/advice/guidance

• Action research/monitoring

• Lobby for the sector

NETbase RESULTS

• Service points connected to Net for public access

• 1995 - 3%

• 1997 - 5%

• 1999 - 43%

LOBBYING FOR THE SECTOR

• Wider networking agenda

• PAT 15

• CMF

• UfI

• Lord Chancellor’s Office

• Modernising government

• ETC

WHAT IS THE PEOPLE’S NETWORK?

THE PEOPLE’S NETWORK

• Physical access route

• Agent for cultural development

• Channel for public service information

1 - ACCESS ROUTE

• Government commitment - Building the New Library Network– 4000+ public libraries connected by the

end of 2002– learning centres in all libraries - ‘Net

access, training resources and trained staff

– Broad interpretation of learning for life

Education andlifelong learning

Citizens’information

Business andthe economy

Community historyand identity

National digitallibrary

2 - CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

• Unifying force for museums, libraries and archives

• Agent of production

• Key resource for learning networks (at community, regional and national levels)

3 - CHANNEL OF SERVICE INTEGRATION

• Means of drawing together public service information (local and national)

• Common interface within the community

• The network resources that are available to everyone

• The acceptable face of Cyberspace

THE NETWORK ICEBERG

• People’s Network

• National Grid for Learning

• University for Industry

• Janet/FE

• Government services - NHS.net/NeLH, Community Legal Service

• Internet and everything else

Could the People’s Network be the catalyst for

a National Information Strategy?

PLACE TO SPACE

• From ‘never open’ to ‘never closed’

• The community grid

• Public service portal

NEVER OPEN TO NEVER CLOSED

• Traditional services

• Extending the existing model and processes

• ICT as new channel

THE COMMUNITY GRID

• Communities of interest

• The integration of local services and information

• Horizontal connectivity

• Community development– learning– cohesion, empowerment

WHY THE LIBRARY SERVICE?

• Status of the service

• Skills of the staff

• The land of opportunity

INCH

The world of Cyberspace

Local community

LocalinstitutionsLocal

servicesLocal

servicesLocal

services

The world of Cyberspace

Local community

Localservices

Localinstitutions

Localservices

Localservices

Localservices

Localservices

The world of Cyberspace

Local community

Localservices

Localinstitutions

Localservices

Localservices

Localservices

Localservices

publiclibrary

PUBLIC SERVICE PORTAL

• Leading the charge

• Beating the post office

• At the heart of government policy

• Commitment, courage, vision...

I want to start a business

•Investigate options

•Set up the company

•Develop/support

The People’s

Network

How can I help?

PLEASE ENTER YOUR QUESTION IN PLAIN ENGLISH...

?I want to start a business

INVESTIGATION

MARKET OPTIONSDirectoriesResearch reportsTrendsLocal supply

DEMANDCatchmentSocio-economySupply chains

TECHNICAL DECISIONSAccommodationR and DStart up

LibraryResearchTecLocal authorityGovt reportsBusiness clubResearch Assoc

Webdocdelemail

REGISTRATION

CENTRAL GOVDTIInland RevCustoms and ExciseCompanies House

LOCAL GOVPlanningTrading StandsBusiness sppt

OTHERUfITECBusiness clubTrade AssocFinancial advice

Please swipe yoursmart card

Personalprofile

DEVELOPMENT/SUPPORT

TRAININGUfILearning centres

SUPPORTBusiness aidFinancial advice

INTERESTProfessional groupsSubject resourcesInformation alert

Email

documents

listserv

web alert

THE PEOPLE’S NETWORK

• Business

• Medical

• Consumer

• Learning

• Empowering

• Travel, leisure

• Just for the fun of it...

THE END?

YOUR TASK

• Commit to a shared strategic vision

• Get stuck in

• Review other priorities

• Work with new partners

• Consider future sustainability

• Get organised as a region

• Promote unique roles/identity

UNIQUE ROLES

• Community memory bank– information management, responding to

local need, books (the public good)

• Community resource centre– learning for life, community development,

supporting the excluded

• Universal access

• Access to a national brand

UNIVERSAL ACCESS

• Wherever there is Internet access

• 24 hour service

• No price barriers

• Support for those with special needs

BRAND STRENGTHS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

• Reliable

• Trusted

• Community based

• Accessible services and resources (eg books)

• Caring service (public good)

• Sustaining tradition

HOW TO BRAND PUBLIC LIBRARIES UK

COMMUNITY ‘FRONT END’

• National model with local frills

• Integrating local and national services

• Recommended sites (gateways)

• Creating and sharing local assets

• Interface to the People’s Network

THE PEOPLE’S NETWORK

• Delivering the 2020 Vision

• Integrator of national information policy

• People’s access route to national, regional and local information assets

• Engine of economic, cultural and social development

• Unifying force of the Information Age