Why do we need Information for All?

These pages are no longer current. They provide historical information on an unsuccessful bid to the Millennium Commission made by "Information for All" in 1996/97.

"Information for All" was a not-for-profit company set up by the Library and Information Commission and the Library Association with the aim of finding ways to fund a national programme for the networking of 4,000 public libraries in the UK. See: http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue7/public-libraries/

The People's Network Project is the lottery-funded project (New Opportunities Fund) which has connected all public libraries to the Internet, as part of the Government's commitment to give everyone in the UK the opportunity to get online. The project is managed by Re:source and more than 4000 library centres have been created through the initiative. [11-02-2003]

What has this got to do with me? What use will it be? Why should we spend money on this? What's it all about?

Do you want some answers? Do you need to be convinced? Well then just visit some of the sections below...

10 Quick Reasons Why...: What's the use of having links to the Internet from public libraries? What can you get on the Internet that you can't get in a book? Well here are ten examples.
Children and the Internet: The Internet is not a dangerous place for children - it will become more and more important in the lives of our children (and their parents) as the next millennium approaches.
Have your say: The famous and the not so famous tell us why we all need 'Information for All'. Also see the constantly updated list of supporters
Future Libraries: Our libraries could look something like these if all public libraries in the UK were to be connected to the Information Superhighway.
The Surfs: Follow an average group of citizens as they find they way around the Internet to help them with their hobbies, interests, work etc. etc.
Libraries and Technology - the current situation: A brief look at the present patchwork situation to show why a national programme is essential.
Books and Technology - The Perfect Partnership: Computers will not mean the end of books, but instead complement books and the existing paper holdings of our public libraries.
Still got some questions?: Worried about less books being bought in favour of the Internet, or children finding pornography? Put your mind at rest with these answers.

© Information for All
For questions or comments, please contact informall@la-hq.org.uk
URL:http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/informall/why/
Last revised 31-Jan-1997

Website by Sarah Ormes and Isobel Stark of UKOLN