E-learning for public library staff. Guest Contribution by Howard Hills.

E-skillsUk has just completed a major new report evaluating an e-learning programme rolled out to public library staff in the UK. The report is on on the E-skillsUK web site.  The report contains much of interest, including the major changes the library service is going through to move from a process organisation (ordering, giving out, taking in and maintaining book stock) to a pro-active service organisation (encouraging more participation in reading, supporting readers in a number of different ways).

As someone who knew little about libraries I was surprised both at the extent of the changes and the direction. Libraries are set to become learning centres: this will take time, and will depend on the creation of partnerships, but that is the trend; so what better place than to try out a new approach to e-learning? And I have "seen it all" (in the Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence, LloydsTSB, and PricewaterhouseCoopers) so that is perhaps a surprising comment.

The method of learning reminds me of the paper organisers new staff in Lloyds Bank were issued with that planned out there first week at work, who to talk to, which learning modules to study, which work based assignments to complete, which books to read; then write it up and review the learning with a supervisor. The Frontline programme uses the same approach electronically using coaches and assessors who are themselves completers of the course. The result is very low tech, and very successful. The same approach could be implemented easily by many employers.

Lessons learnt, include that:

• the supervisor/coach role using a recent completer of the course works well;
• the majority of learners considered themselves reasonable confident with IT;
• all found access to IT easy (perhaps not surprisingly with the widespread public access to IT available in libraries);
• managers felt the implementation was very straightforward and painless for them.

If you want to know more - read the report, or email Howard Hills - howard [AT] howardhills.net. www.howardhills.net