Information skills for open learning: a public library initiative

Early in 1996 South Ayrshire Libraries submitted a proposal to the British Library Research and Innovation Centre’s Digital Libraries Programme, outlining a plan to enhance public library support to users who were engaged in open or distance learning by identifying and classifying a range of learning resources which could be accessed via the Internet. This was to be accomplished by designing and developing a Web‐based directory to support open learners. In addition it was planned that references to locally held open learning material should also be included in the directory. The proposal included a preliminary stage which involved collaboration with the Robert Gordon University School of of Information and Media, to develop information and skills training for independent learners. It was envisaged that this would take the form of a Web‐based resource which collated various learning skills packages which are currently available on the Internet. This could then be used as the basis for developing information skills courses which could be run locally by public library staff. The aim of this paper is to describe the procedure and rationale for developing the Information Skills Web site and to report on progress to date. Examines the question of why information skills training was seen to be a key starting point for the project and the issues and challenges which have surfaced during the development and implementation of the Web site designed to facilitate this training.