Information and communications technology training for British librarians

Abstract

This paper considers the difficulties involved in training a group of UK public library workers up to the level of computer literacy associated with the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL). The policy context for this study is provided by the need for ICT (information and communications technology) training that was recognised by the Library Information Commission (LIC) reports of 1997 and 1998. It was decided to investigate the efficiency of this £20 million training programme by means of a longitudinal study conducted over four years, starting in 1999, that followed a group of 20 librarians working in the north‐west of England. To further illuminate the results, a similar cohort of librarians was tracked in east Finland, over the same time period. The results suggest that the LIC's aim of getting all library staff up to the ECDL has not been realised. Furthermore, there has been a significant difference in terms of training between professional and front‐line staff. At the end of the paper, some suggestions are made that might enhance the efficacy of such training programmes, especially in terms of financial incentives.