REVIEW DRAFT

E-Skills: Public Libraries Help Europeans Gain Critical Digital Skills

Since the financial crisis hit the European Union (EU) in 2008, Europe has lost 5.6 million jobs.1 Recovering jobs and ensuring long-term economic growth for the region will require an educated and capable workforce. Confronted by emerging, technology-oriented markets and rising competition from countries with lowercost labour markets, the ability of EU industries to compete internationally is becoming increasingly dependent on their ability to employ workers with strong information and communications technology (ICT) skills. The European Commission predicts that by 2015 the EU could lack 700 000 needed ICT practitioners.2 The Commission is also concerned that 30 per cent of Europeans have rarely or never used the Internet, which significantly hampers their employment opportunities since most jobs already require eskills.3 The European Commission recognises this need and has clearly stated that an accessible use of information and communications technologies in the era of the Internet enhances employability and life opportunities and calls for sustained effort to bridge the digital divide through enhancing digital literacy, skills and regular Internet use for disadvantaged people.4 The EU 2020 flagship initiatives Youth on the Move,5 An Agenda for New Skills and Jobs,6 and the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion7 further recognise E-Skills and access to ICT as critical in combating unemployment and social exclusion.

I cant learn much from my grandchildren because they do everything so fast that its impossible to follow. Here [at the library], I was able to learn to use a computer right from the very basics.
Arvdas, Latvia
The Digital Agenda for Europe proposes to make digital literacy and competencies a priority for the European Social Fund from 2014-2020 and requests that EU Member States make digital literacy and E-Skills long-term priorities and to mainstream e-learning within their national policies.

Public Libraries Help People Improve Their E-Skills

Public libraries throughout the EU are focused on improving the E-Skills of citizens, by providing ICT access and skills trainings to people who need it most.

European Commission Staff Working Document: Exploiting the Employment Potential of ICTs, 18 April 2012 2 An Agenda for New Skills and Jobs: A European Contribution Towards Full Employment, COM(2010), 682, page 9 3 Ibid. 4 The European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion: A European Framework for Social and Territorial Cohesion, COM(2010), 758 final, page 11
1

Youth on the Move: An Initiative to Unleash the Potential of Young People to Achieve Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in the European Union, COM(2010), 477 final 6 An Agenda for New Skills and Jobs: A European Contribution Towards Full Employment, COM(2010), 682, page 10 7 The European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion: A European Framework for Social and Territorial Cohesion, COM(2010), 758 final, page 11
5

REVIEW DRAFT Here are some examples of EU public libraries improving access to E-Skills: To ensure that librarians can train and consult public library users on digital skills development, public libraries in Latvia provided a 140-hour training programme for 1 800 librarians on topics like software and communications skills. Public libraries in Latvia have also partnered with NGOs, government agencies, and businesses to enhance their service offerings. A partnership with Latvenergo, a state-owned power supply enterprise, enabled public libraries to teach library users how to pay electricity bills online, check meters, and work with customer service to improve household energy efficiency. A partnership with financial institutions including Swedbank and SEB Bank helped train librarians assist public library users on accessing digital finance resourcesfrom budget management tools to e-financial services. In Romania, E-Skills trainings at public libraries are addressing the needs of the more than a million citizens who expressed interest in free ICT courses at the public library. Lithuania published and distributed a series of workbooks for public library users on topics like computer literacy and safe Internet use, and made them available online for free download. Some public libraries in Lithuania have partnered with local universities and public institutions to organise skills training for library users. Public libraries have also partnered with Swedbank to teach citizens to use online banking. In just three months in 2011, 259 public libraries in Bulgaria organised 750 group computer literacy trainings for nearly 5 000 citizens. Training courses provided at public libraries include group and individual classes on topics such as general computer and software skills, Internet navigation, and using online communications tools like email and Skype. The public libraries provide tailored classes for users with specific needs, such as unemployed people who need help on skills and tasks such as CV writing and online employment searching. In Polands Library Development Programme, 83 per cent of participating libraries offer individual consultations helping existing nonusers to get acquainted with a computer and the Internet, while 50 per cent of libraries offer more complex group classes. During European Get Online Week in 2011, nearly 7 000 people made their first click on the Internet as part of the events organised by libraries.

E-Ageing Well in Action: Marias Story

Maria, age 70, manages the tourism programme of the University of the Third Age in Wrocaw, Poland, researching and organising tours to bring joy to other older people in the community. All of this is possible through skills she developed at her public library. A veteran of public library computer classes, Maria joined a training course in digital photography and image processing. Together, the computer and photography skills she learned at the public library enable her to plan tours from start to finishsearching for background information on a destination, developing schedules, booking transportation and hotels, and finding tickets to historic sites. Using the public library computer resources, Maria prepares itineraries and photographic guides for the participants. During the tour, Maria uses her new photography skills to take photos, which she later retouches and formats into group presentations, preserving memories for her travel companions and sharing experiences with other library users.