Project Background & Rationale
One of the major pillars of Europe's i2010 initiative calls for "inclusion, better services for citizens and quality of life" and emphasises the enhanced use of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) for life-long learning and social inclusion.
A flagship initiative encourages a focusing of research and deployment efforts in the field of 'digital libraries', specifically to use high-tech tools to make Europe's rich heritage available to as many people as possible in order to combine individual creativity with ICT.
European Ministers of Education have agreed on three major goals to be achieved by 2010 for the benefit of citizens and the EU as a whole: to improve the quality and effectiveness of EU education and training systems; to ensure that they are accessible to all to open up education and training to the wider world. The 2006 EU Communication Adult Education: it's never too late to learn calls on countries to promote adult learning in Europe and to place it firmly on the political agenda. An Action Plan on Adult Learning, planned for 2007 will aim to promote this, thereby contributing to personal benefits of development and fulfilment, raising skill levels, reducing social exclusion, promoting active citizenship and supporting employability and mobility in the labour market. Among the major challenges identified is lifting the barriers to participation for all groups, especially the ageing population and migrants.
For children and young adults, widespread interest in the role of ICT in learning tends to enhance recognition that many young people are immersed in ICT-related activities in their homes and with their friends. Learning is seen increasingly to occur through the leisure activities that are now mediated by digital technologies as part of young people's social and cultural lives, but which are often viewed by formal educational establishments as being outside the realm of valued educational experience, such as: children's: playing of computer games; use of chat rooms; exploitation of digital media; digital television etc
The EU’s e-learning initiatives also promote digital literacy as one of the basic skills of all Europeans as well as the contribution of ICT to learning in general, especially for those who, due to their geographical location, socio-economic situation or special needs, do not have easy access to traditional education and training.
It is clear that learning is not confined to formal institutions such as schools, colleges and universities. New technologies also can offer all members of society the opportunity to match learning to their specific needs and circumstances. This supports the concept of a wide ‘ecology’ of learning where education institutions, homes, families and friends, the workplace, consulting with people in all walks of life, leisure activities etc - as well as interaction with libraries and other community and cultural organisations - all play their part.
The role to be played by non-formal/informal learning institutions, such as Europe’s 96,000 public libraries, is an issue at the heart of each of these interrelated agendas. In order to maximise their potential to contribute to the goals of the Lisbon Agenda, public libraries must offer new and innovative services and activities that empower citizens to successfully achieve Lifelong Learning, helping to increase the number of qualified, skilled and fulfilled people in Europe of any age, class or gender, including those enrolled in recognised courses and those simply wanting to improve their skills at any time of their life, for any reason, whilst reducing the risk of creating a digital divide.