PRESS RELEASE
 
   
5th May 1998

EARL (Electronic Access to Resources in Libraries), The Consortium for 
Public Library Networking

THE NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY NETWORK - NEW DEVELOPMENTS

Last week the DCMS announced its three priority areas for the future of New 
Library: the People's Network (1), and the Terms of Reference for the 
proposed Implementation Committee, two discussion papers (2) and a draft 
set of policy directions for the New Opportunities Fund are now available 
on the web (3).

EARL warmly welcomes these documents which are very much in line with 
EARL's own priorities:
- Implementation of the network
- ICT training for public library staff
- Content creation

EARL's other major priority, Lifelong Learning, is also an important 
element in all three strands

EARL welcomes the useful points made in the ICT training discussion 
document, especially the recognition that both professional and 
non-professional staff will need to be able to utilise the networked res  
ources, that library workers and teachers will have differing ICT training 
needs (although there will be overlap), and that the training must be 
timely, allowing the staff to fully consolidate what they have learned.

EARL agrees that the digitisation of important existing content in public 
library collections is much needed, so that these resources become widely 
available for public / educational use. We would also urge the New 
Opportunities Fund to consider the broader meaning of network content: the 
creation of new, content-rich services that do not currently exist in 
non-digital form, and the increased accessibility of non-digital 
content/resources made possible by the development of collaborative 
services.

EARL, the Consortium for Public Library Networking, was established in 1995 
to develop the role of public libraries in providing library and 
information services over the network. It now has 146 partners in local 
authorities, and associate partners in government, the profession, higher 
education, and the commercial sector including the Library Association, the 
British Library, the UK Office for Library and Information Networking, the 
Department for Education and Employment and the Department for Culture, 
Media and Sport.   Through collaboration, EARL aims to demonstrate and 
extend the ability of public libraries to deliver networked information and 
knowledge-based services.

Notes to Editors

(1) New Library : The People's Network: Report commissioned from the 
Library and Information Commission by the Department for Culture, Media and 
Sport. It is available from the Library and Information Commission or at 
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/services/lic/newlibrary

(2) Terms of Reference:
  http://www.culture.gov.uk/LIC-TOR.HTM
  Creation of Digitised Content:
  http://www.culture.gov.uk/ANNEXC.HTM
  Information and Communications Technology Training for Public Library 
Staff:
  http://www.culture.gov.uk/ANNEXB.HTM

(3) New Opportunities fund - Policy Directions:
   http://www.culture.gov.uk/WEBNOF.HTM

Contact
For more details about the EARL Consortium see our website at 
http://www.earl.org.uk or contact Helen Copeman at EARL, 4th Floor, Gun 
Court, 70 Wapping Lane, London E1 9RL; tel: 0171 702 2020; email: 
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