-apologies for cross posting-



For Immediate Release                                                       Contact:  Emma Wright
                                                                                                020 7273 1459


Influential Report Highlights e-learning Role for Museums, Archives and Libraries

London, 30 April 2003 - Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries welcomes the Broadband Education Report from the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), the government's key advisory group on broadband.  Resource endorses the report's recommendation that Government should commit to providing broadband access to all points of learning, including museums and archives, as well as libraries.

The landmark education report provides a step-by-step guide to making the UK a leader in online learning and calls on Government to champion change.  The report states the case for widespread use and exploitation of broadband within the education system, highlights the barriers to successful adoption, and proposes a five step strategy to help bring about a new age of learning for UK education.  

The report complements the eEurope 2005 Action Plan e-learning objective that "all schools and universities have internet access for educational and research purposes over a broadband connection.  Museums, archives, libraries, and similar institutions that play a key role in e-learning should also be connected to broadband networks".

David Dawson, Resource's Senior ICT Adviser, said:  "Resource welcomes this report and the emphasis it puts on the importance of museums, archives and libraries in delivering e-learning through the UK's museums, archives and libraries.  The People's Network, Resource's project which has connected all public libraries to the internet, installing 32,000 PCs and broadband connections throughout the public library network, is enabling people from every walk of life to have the opportunity to participate actively in the information society.  The vital next step is to repeat the success by widening the People's Network to include museums and archives."

The BSG's press release on the Broadband Education Report and the full report are available at http://www.broadbanduk.org/news/bsg_press_release_28_04_03.htm

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Notes to editors:  

For further information or an interview, please contact Emma Wright, Resource's Media and Events Manager, on 020 7273 1459 or email [log in to unmask]

Resource provides the strategic leadership, advocacy and advice to enable museums, archives and libraries to touch people's lives and inspire their imagination, learning and creativity.  The Resource website can be viewed at http://www.resource.gov.uk

The Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) is Government's key advisory group on Broadband. It provides advice on the Government strategy to meet its target for the UK to have the most extensive and competitive Broadband market in the G7 by 2005.  Resource is represented on the BSG Education group by David Dawson.

The People's Network is a project to connect all public libraries to the internet, as part of the Government's commitment to give everyone in the UK the opportunity to get online.  Lottery funded by the New Opportunities Fund and managed by Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. There are now over 30,000 terminals installed in 4,000 public libraries, offering over 60 million hours of free internet access a year, giving people of all ages, interests and backgrounds the opportunity to participate in the 'wired' society.  Further information is available from the People's Network website at http://www.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk

It is estimated that by the end of December 2002, 68.5 million hours of internet access per annum will be available through the People's Network. In most cases the access is free, and all library staff have either embarked upon or completed a training programme to ensure that help and support is available to users.


14/03


Emma Wright
Media and Events Manager
Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries
16 Queen Anne's Gate
London  SW1H 9AA
Direct line 020 7273 1459
Switchboard 020 7273 1444
Email: [log in to unmask]
Website: www.resource.gov.uk
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Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries
16 Queen Anne's Gate
London
SW1H 9AA

Tel 02072731444

Website: http://www.resource.gov.uk

The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments is confidential.   If you have received it in error, you are on notice of its status.   It is intended solely for the addressee.   Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender immediately and delete the email and any attachments from the system.