Memorandum submitted by Bath and North
East Somerset
Whilst a relatively small authority we are very
committed to providing a quality People's Network facility across
our main Central Library and seven branches, with good technical
software back up, along with network services from what was previously
our internal IT department.
We currently have a wide range of users, using
the service for many differing purposes, and we arrange in-house
training sessions for the public with the help of our council
training services. We do have some kit available for users with
a variety of disability needs/requirements at most libraries;
on present experience at the main city library these are very
under used. Staff training in order for us to provide hands-on
support for individual members of the public has to date been
patchy, it is better in the branch libraries than the central
library. It is being addressed, albeit assisting people with special
learning requirements has not been properly attended to. There
has been a concern that we do not yet reach people on what is
quoted as the poorer margins of society though a revised strategy
is going some way to address this.
Publicity detailing our services is placed in
many council establishments, and very well linked to the essential
elements of life-long learning programmes.
Major concerns surround the future provision,
and any potential for expansion of the People's Network. It is
currently a free service for all, keeping abreast of our one stop
shop services, and developing of e-payment and e-government. Improving
council information networks, coupled with getting greater awareness
of this provision to all members of our local community, has to
be done alongside the need for traditional material requirements
of a busy public library system.
We do not yet fully address the needs of disadvantaged
peoples as we have not yet been able to spend time with them and
really discover their needs so we can make realistic and meaningful
provision for them. A major difficulty is the lack of staff time
to effectively deal with this matter, we also need to be assured
that funding provision is, and will continue to be, in place.
How else can we enable the proposals to be carried out, and equally
importantly sustained over a long period—with built in flexibility
to move with technological advances, without the essential renewal
of vital capital resources?
The commitment and the will exist, along with
the desire to develop PN as detailed above. Sustainability and
longer term serious cash investment/enabling is where the un-answered
(so far) doubts are emerging.
12 November 2004
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