Digital Futures (Knowledge Institutions in the 21 st 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) Government-funded development agency (Culture Department) Advise the Government on policy and funding Advise the Government on policy and funding Innovation and improvement in museums, libraries and archives Innovation and improvement in museums, libraries and archives

Essential facts Annual budget:£39million Annual budget:£39million Staff:75 Staff:75 Museums:2,500 Libraries:12,000 Archives:2,000 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 Education, Learning and Skills Communities and Creativity Communities and Creativity Knowledge Economy Knowledge Economy Networking Knowledge Networking Knowledge

Strategic developments MuseumsArchivesLibraries Renaissance in the Regions Task Force Framework for the Future

Strategic developments MuseumsArchivesLibraries SOCIAL POLICY Social inclusion Service accessibility Education and learning Community development Urban and rural regeneration CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT Workforce development Collections management and development Standards Funding: models and challenge Service benchmarking INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 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 £20 million 40,000 library workers 40,000 library workers European Computer Driving Licence European Computer Driving Licence

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

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

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

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

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

DIGITAL FUTURES Towards the Knowledge Society

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

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

DIGITAL FUTURES

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

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

Once created it is all totally invisible to the user!

The official view DIGITAL FUTURES

The view for 99% of Web users DIGITAL FUTURES

THE GOOGLE PARADOX Women are Persons

Antique clocks THE GOOGLE PARADOX

Estelle Government Minister Location: Westminster Question: Roman remains Dan Smart kid Location: York Question: Castles Cultural Cybernauts 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 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 Common sense is not enough The user is invisible The user is invisible Collections remain separate Collections remain separate The Web is supplier driven The Web is supplier driven DIGITAL FUTURES

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

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

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

I belong to Dan age 9 Remember: - History project - Dinner money for Monday - Sophie’s birthday Friends: - you have 7 messages - Christopher is online - Sophie is nearby 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... Handset image © Sony Ericsson 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 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

NAME:Estelle SEARCH:Roman remains RESULT HITS:7 hits 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: o Institute of Archaeology introductory lecture on Roman remains in Britain (streamed audio [free]) o Digging up Roman remains in England - Time Team programme from C4 (streamed video [single viewing £1.00]) o Books on Roman history in Britain in your local library o Collections of Roman remains within 45 minutes travel time of home (travel details included) o Links to organisations that other people like you found useful o People in the area you might like to chat to o Click here to let other organisations hear about your interest Score: 10/10 Existing interests Home address Learning styles Greater user satisfaction Few skills are required of the user New services and markets Content will be connected together Culture and knowledge for all Answers start journeys of discovery From e-Government to public value From 96:50 to 96:96

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

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

“ A gateway into different worlds”

SEVEN PROPOSITIONS FOR THE 21 ST CENTURY Librarians are the gatekeepers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THANK YOU