Digital Futures (Knowledge Institutions in the 21st Century) Chris Batt Chief Executive Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

A presentation in three parts What is MLA What do we do Digital Futures Programme

What is Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)? Government-funded development agency (Culture Department) Advise the Government on policy and funding Innovation and improvement in museums, libraries and archives

Essential facts Annual budget: £39million Staff: 75 Museums: 2,500 Libraries: 12,000 Archives: 2,000

Investing in Knowledge “Museums, libraries and archives connect people to knowledge and information, creativity and inspiration” “MLA is leading the drive to unlock this wealth, for everyone”

Policy and Advocacy Raise the political profile of sector Work to increase investment Connect to other programmes Link national and local policies

Policy Areas Education, Learning and Skills Communities and Creativity Knowledge Economy Networking Knowledge

Strategic developments www.mla.gov.uk Museums Libraries Archives Renaissance in the Regions Framework for the Future Task Force

Strategic developments The peoplesnetwork Museums Libraries Archives CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SOCIAL POLICY Social inclusion Service accessibility Education and learning Community development Urban and rural regeneration Workforce development Collections management and development Standards Funding: models and challenge Service benchmarking Cultural content digitisation Links with learning and e-government ICT standards Service innovation – Digital Futures The People’s Network

The peoplesnetwork £170 million project ICT centres in all UK public libraries Train all library workers in ICT Create digital cultural content

Training library workers £20 million 40,000 library workers European Computer Driving Licence

the peoplesnetwork Target achieved, below budget “Create ICT learning centres in all 4,300 UK public libraries by the end of 2002”. Target achieved, below budget Minister for Culture, 1998

Vital Statistics 32,000 terminals 93% on 2mb connections or more 10% increase in library visits Sustained levels of use

the peoplesnetwork 46,000,000 Hours of usage in 2003

“I forgot about library services over the years – now I use it more than ever”

the peoplesnetwork High profile National policy New political awareness Big impact Librarians did it

Towards the Knowledge Society DIGITAL FUTURES Towards the Knowledge Society

Digital content so far Increase discovery and accessibility Encourage learning and enjoyment Create virtual collections To support ‘knowledge policy’ DIGITAL FUTURES

Wide range of public programmes in the UK Curriculum Online University resources NHS Direct Online DirectGov (e-Government) Cultural and knowledge resources DIGITAL FUTURES

DIGITAL FUTURES

DIGITAL FUTURES

DIGITAL FUTURES

What have we learned so far? It is not easy! Virtual collections add value More active citizens New services and access

What have we learned so far? The 96:50 ratio The technology must be invisible A digital library is not a library And, as if my magic…

Once created it is all totally invisible to the user!

The official view DIGITAL FUTURES

The view for 99% of Web users DIGITAL FUTURES

Women are Persons THE GOOGLE PARADOX

Antique clocks THE GOOGLE PARADOX

Cultural Cybernauts Estelle Dan DIGITAL FUTURES Government Minister Location: Westminster Question: Roman remains Dan Smart kid Location: York Question: Castles DIGITAL FUTURES

Roman Remains = 1,200,000 Hits What was required? - Simple introduction to archaeology - Engaging material - sound and images - How to find out more - Where to see something 1/10 DIGITAL FUTURES

Castles = 2,100,000 Hits 1/10 What was required? - Cool stuff for homework - Castles to visit locally - Safe experts to talk to 1/10 DIGITAL FUTURES

Causes of the 96:50 ratio Common sense is not enough The user is invisible Collections remain separate The Web is supplier driven DIGITAL FUTURES

Common Information Environment Group MLA Joint Information Systems Cttee National Health Service British Library National Archive Department of Education DIGITAL FUTURES

Information Environment Model PRESENTATION LAYER FUSION LAYER Starts with the user INFRASTRUCTURE LAYER Content not institution CONTENT LAYER DIGITAL FUTURES

The Knowledge Web Knowledge and culture for all Join objects and collections together Interest before institution MYberspace – ‘my’ learning space Create motivation and enthusiasm DIGITAL FUTURES

I belong to Dan age 9 Friends: - you have 7 messages Daniel, here are some links to background on castles: Castles €8 to download from Amazon now Castles of England free from the Heritage Portal There are 6 resources in Curriculum Online suitable for your class project... You are not far from... Castle Campbell Time Team were there last year, and you can see the broadcast here. You can book a ticket, and send directions to the car. Castle Campbell image © SCRAN I belong to Dan age 9 Remember: - E-mail History project - Dinner money for Monday - Sophie’s birthday Friends: - you have 7 messages - Christopher is online - Sophie is nearby Handset image © Sony Ericsson DIGITAL FUTURES

Roman Remains = 1,200,000 Hits What was required? - Simple introduction to archaeology - Engaging material - sound and images - How to find out more - Where to see something 1/10 DIGITAL FUTURES

Culture and knowledge for all Greater user satisfaction NAME: Estelle SEARCH: Roman remains RESULT HITS: 7 hits Existing interests Home address Learning styles Hi Estelle: I’ve ‘dug up’ some basic stuff on Roman remains and registered you for seven days on the new archaeologists discussion list so you can get see what everyone is talking about. If you want the local archaeology group and the Roman Society to know about your interest, just click the links below: Institute of Archaeology introductory lecture on Roman remains in Britain (streamed audio [free]) Digging up Roman remains in England - Time Team programme from C4 (streamed video [single viewing £1.00]) Books on Roman history in Britain in your local library Collections of Roman remains within 45 minutes travel time of home (travel details included) Links to organisations that other people like you found useful People in the area you might like to chat to Click here to let other organisations hear about your interest Score: 10/10 Culture and knowledge for all Greater user satisfaction Answers start journeys of discovery Few skills are required of the user From e-Government to public value New services and markets From 96:50 to 96:96 Content will be connected together

“The street will find its own uses for things” The people in the street Concluding Thoughts

Telling stories about the future Integrating collections Making access easy Showing how progress is supported Creating an informed society Investing in Knowledge Learning, knowledge economy Creativity and communities Myberspace – the personal Information environment Institutions in partnership creating virtual collections

“ A gateway into different worlds” Chris.batt@mla.gov.uk www.mla.gov.uk

SEVEN PROPOSITIONS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Librarians are the gatekeepers

“Librarians must love learning” Proposition 1 Learning is at the heart of the library mission Learning of all types from the most informal A ‘one stop’ route to everything – physical or virtual

“Librarians must build bridges” Proposition 2 Reaching out to new audiences Linking the community to itself Connecting people to knowledge, culture and ideas The place where journeys start and a place where journeys end

“Librarians must be streetwise” Proposition 3 Unique closeness to communities User focus is vital User-friendly systems Perhaps the most under-promoted skill of the librarian

“Librarians must be innovators” Proposition 4 Creating new resources, new services Identifying community trends Helping communities to develop for themselves Breaking down traditional barriers to service integration

“Librarians must have passion” Proposition 5 This is a time for action, a time to take risks If we cannot speak with passion about libraries, who will? Be confident advocates “a nation in love with knowledge”

“Librarians must be leaders” Proposition 6 Information management Metadata maestros! Information wizards The people’s professionals Learn the tactics and strategies of leadership

“Librarians must be dreamers” Proposition 7 Solve 10 impossible problems every day Defend the past and create the future Help every citizen to surpass their own hopes and aspirations

Chris.batt@mla.gov.uk www.mla.gov.uk THANK YOU Chris.batt@mla.gov.uk www.mla.gov.uk