Report OL157 The Loan and Learn scheme at Glossop Library

Between August 1989 and March 1990 a successful pilot Open Learning service was set up in 10 libraries in England, Scotland and Wales. Supported by the Employment Department, the objective was to establish a service that offered members of the public access to Open Learning programmes on terms which would attract unsponsored individuals. Borrowing of Open Learning materials was high with over 50% of stock on loan at any one time. The service reached a wide range of users, 72% of whom had no previous experience of learning this way. The facility was used by people of all educational levels - basic to degree, often as a way of 'tasting' new skills. A third were unwaged, and three quarters were women. The libraries involved consider that this pilot scheme confirms the value of public libraries as a learning resource. All libraries are developing the scheme further. A list of libraries participating in the pilot schemes is given in Appendix 1.

Stockport and High Peak Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) was established in 1990. One of the basic philosophies of the TEC is to increase participation in training by both employed and unemployed people, and to make training more available to the community. Given the positive outcomes of the pilot "Open Learning in Public Libraries" projects it was felt that one method of widening access to training in the semi-rural area of High Peak was to establish a resource bank of Open Learning materials in a local library for use on a loan basis. In January 1991 the TEC approached Derbyshire County Council with a view to collaborating on such a project, and to identify the most suitable location. The following project aims were established:
(1) to make Open Learning materials available through a rural library;
(2) to increase the employability of learners taking advantage of the service; and
(3) to give the TEC a higher profile in High Peak area. In consultation with Derbyshire County Council it was decided to house the Open Learning Resource Bank in Glossop Public Library. Factors influencing the choice of location were economic, geographical, receptivity to training, and library facilities.

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This page last updated 31 January 1999.