An Evaluation of the New Opportunities Fund ICT Training Programme for Public Library Staff, UK.

Public library staff in the UK are being trained on an unprecedented scale. The ICT Training Programme for Public Library Staff is financed by the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) and aims to equip staff with the ICT skills essential to assist the public. The programme consists of eight outcomes and aims to develop competence with ICT, including the Internet. This paper considers some of the training methods for the Internet received by staff. Specifically, the results of a study at Loughborough University, which included surveys, focus groups and interviews with managers, are described in relation to staff training preferences and perceived strengths and weaknesses of a variety of methods. A survey completed by staff from 14 public library authorities found that external training was rated most favourably. The use of online delivery in one training course is detailed and the potential of the online delivery of training for public library staff is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]