Electronic information for The Learning City: a cross‐sectoral approach to the provision of electronic journals in Sunderland
| Published date | 01 January 1998 |
| Pages | 11-15 |
| Date | 01 January 1998 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb040673 |
| Author | Vilas Edwards |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Electronic information
for The Learning City:
a cross-sectoral
approach to the
provision of electronic
journals in
Sunderland
by Vilas Edwards, Assistant Director,
Information Services, University of
Sunderland
Lifelong learning is high on the Government's
agenda. More than at any other
time,
there is
a need for libraries from all sectors to work
together,
in particular to exploit the potential of
the National Grid for Learning to make
information and learning accessible to many
more people. In this article, Vilas Edwards
describes the distinctive partnership between
library services in the City of Sunderland to
support learning communities, focusing on IT
developments and in
particular,
the provision
of
a
City-wide electronic journals service.
Background
The importance of lifelong learning has been
highlighted in a series of recent reports and policy
papers. These include reports by Dearing (1997),
Kennedy (1997), and Fryer (1997);
The
Learning
Age (DfEE, 1998), New Library: the People's
Network (LIC, 1997) and proposals for the Na-
tional Grid for Learning (DfEE, 1997). These
establish the vision of a learning society with new
technology as an important element in opening up
learning opportunities. They also recognise the
crucial importance of partnerships of all kinds in
achieving the Learning Age.
The City of Sunderland has long been committed
to the concept of lifelong learning. The City has
one of the lowest take-up rates of formal education
in the UK. Our traditional industries of shipbuild-
ing and coalmining have disappeared, creating a
need for whole communities to learn new skills
and to establish new ways of working. In recent
years,
there has been a pressing need to revitalise
the local economy, provide new learning
opportunities for the local workforce, especially
in ICT applications, and to attract inward invest-
ment.
Key agencies in Sunderland have come together as
the City of Sunderland Partnership to commit to a
collaborative way of working, with a City-wide
perspective and to work towards establishing
Sunderland as a true "Learning City" within a
learning region.
In December 1996, the City of Sunderland Part-
nership launched its Telematics Strategy. Over 70
agencies contributed to the Strategy including the
University, Sunderland City Council, local busi-
nesses, the TEC and the voluntary sector.
The Strategy has a clear mission:
"To raise awareness and skill levels of
individuals and organisations within the City
of Sunderland in the broad areas of
IT
and
Telematics and by doing so enhance quality
of life, increase business activity, maximise
inward investment and ensure that
Sunderland achieves and maintains a
premier position in a knowledge-based
future."
The importance of providing the electronic con-
nections necessary to access networked resources
was recognised through the creation of The Sun-
derland Host - the City-wide Internet service
established at the University of Sunderland which
offers a commercial Internet service to the commu-
nity. The Sunderland Host preserves our local
identity on the international scene and is seen as
the City's gateway to global networks.
The Strategy also recognised the importance of
reaching local communities, whose residents find
it daunting to enter educational establishments. A
key part of the strategy was therefore to establish
Electronic Village Halls - centres which provide
ICT training and awareness opportunities at the
heart of local communities.
VINE 110
— 11
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