Information literacy,
libraries and learning
Rhona Arthur
Assistant Director
Scottish Library and
Information Council

Overview
 Skills for Scotland
 reader development
 libraries as learning centres
 workforce development and next
generation qualifications
 SLIC and CILIPS
 information literacy

Political context
1997 People’s Network
2001 Digital Scotland and Connecting
Scotland’s People
2007 SNP Government
2007 Skills for Scotland
2008 Google generation
2008 Credit crunch
2009 Digital Britain

Skills for Scotland
Library support for skills Public libraries are 15% of
 
needs acknowledged the learndirect scotland
network
Direct providers of formal

learning opportunities 45% use libraries for

learning, supporting their
Or support those who

studies or homework
provide learning
554 library service points

Smörgåsbord of provision

4106 public access pcs

More emphasis on

information literacy or 27.95% increase in web

informal learning – access visits to over 10M
is not enough 100 career info points


Comments in S4S response
Community planning Shared services agenda
 
partnerships
Not just about

Careers guidance and adult

employability skills
guidance networks
Need some funding to

Bookstart, Summer reading,

follow the learner
Count me in
Learndirect centres Strategic direction but no
 
Formal education co-ordination

-HE/FE/schools
Need greater learner-

Third sector

focus
LLUK

Facilitator and signposting

Employers

role
Health sector


Libraries as learning centres
Streetcorner Range of provision
 
university Assistive technologies

Fundamental part of
 Use of ILAs

learning organisations Partnerships and

Self evaluation
 progression
frameworks Skills to support

Partnership with
 learners
SCURL

Readership development
National Readership Retail principles
 
Development Network Library layout and

Promotions design

Skills development

Literacy skills

development

Workforce development and
next generation qualifications
LLUK CILIP qualifications
 
National Occupational Mentoring
 
Standards CILIPS CPD

ICTL Diplomas
 Scottish Credit and

Library educators Qualifications

Framework

What we do to support skills
development?
Strategic policy work: BIG Procurement with JISC
 
lottery, Calman, Digital PLQIM

Britain, copyright Support work of SCURL

responses
Website development

National reading

Scotland’s information

promotion
Conference 1-3rd June

FE self evaluation

Joint conference and

framework
study tour
Schools self evaluation

CPD programme

framework
CILIP FoQA support

Scotlandspeople


Information literacy
The flat world
Hanging out on digital street
corners
Trading in the digital
marketplace
The Forgotten

What tools have we got?
Frameworks Internet Literacy Skills
 
qualification
Sconul’s 7 pillars

Internet Safety

PLUS model

qualification
The Big Six

CILIPS Roadmap

Web Quests


In conclusion
Libraries make a significant contribution to learning and

skills development for all
Investment

Support staff development to offer better support for

learners
Improved partnership with careers and adult guidance to

help with signposting
Exploring joint service developments which puts the

learner at the centre;
Establishing a national forum of service stakeholders to

enable discussion and explore partnership working.
THANK YOU
