Love Libraries – Digital Skills Support & Databank provision across Dundee

With more and more services and information online, having digital access and skills is crucial.

But 19 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have a high likelihood of digital exclusion, according to a Scottish Government report. Digital exclusion includes a lack of access to IT hardware, internet connectivity and limited digital literacy and skills.

This can have a major impact on various groups, including those in receipt of welfare funding and older people, especially those over 65.

Dundee’s libraries are helping to tackle the issue and improve people’s digital access and knowledge by offering kit, classes and clubs, such as Digital Skills for Life, run by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers.

A special Opportunities Room at the Central Library helps people develop IT skills and access resources.

Since 2016, more than 21,000 people have been helped as part of Dundee’s Digital Support, Databank and Device Bank projects.

Essential

Meg Marr, Volunteer Coordinator – Libraries & Information Services, said:

“We help everyone, including older people, people who are new to Dundee, new to Scotland, people who don’t have laptops, computers, tablets, or WiFi or data, or who never had the opportunity to learn digital skills.

“These things are essential now for everything. Accessing health is a big one – a lot of people now get a text or email link to complete consent forms, and there’s now video calling too, which is great for people who can’t travel or living somewhere with poor transport links.

“But they need access to the tech and WiFi, and to have the digital skills, to do so.”

Volunteers are a range of ages, should people feel more comfortable talking to a peer.

Meg said:

“Our youngest volunteers are 18 but we have volunteers in their 70s and 80s. Some of them are retired community learning tutors, so they are really good with people.

“We also have multilingual volunteers and our team speaks about 15 languages. That really helps with accessibility. International students who come to Dundee to study like to volunteer to make connections in the local community. There’s Ukrainian, Polish, Urdu, Punjabi, Mandarin, some African dialects and quite a few Arabic speakers.”

Free

The team also supports people who are new to Dundee and Scotland to access resources through the library’s e-learning platform, such as Transparent Language Online.

Meg said:

“In a time when people are struggling for money, the fact that everything is free with your library card is important.

“People coming in then find out about all the other things the library offers. There are so many services running groups and activities in the library.”

Community engagement is important for Leisure & Culture Dundee, which oversees library services, and an outreach worker runs activities such as immersive storytelling – using a virtual reality headset – digital literacy and education options, and a children’s coding club.

Meg said:

“There’s a lot of interest in coding and the clubs are super busy. People come to the library and will say, ‘oh, I didn’t know you did all this’.”

Dundee’s libraries offer everything from health and well-being services to reading groups, genealogy support, workshops and talks.

Learn more about what’s on at leisureandculturedundee.com/library