Shetland Islands Council

11/20/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/20/2024 08:34

Digital Discovery at Shetland Library

Louise Arcus (left), Systems Assistant at Shetland Library, demonstrates some of the new devices to Councillors Catherine Hughson and Davie Sandison, Vice Chair and Chair of the Council's Education and Families Committee. Credit: SIC

Shetland Library is holding a 'Digital Discovery Day' at the end of this month to showcase a new range of digital devices for members to borrow.

Google Chromebooks and MiFi units were supplied by Connecting Scotland, a Scottish Government initiative which provides support to people who are digitally excluded. The MiFi units are portable devices that create a mobile WiFi hotspot, allowing users to connect to the internet through the Vodafone network.

The Library also won funding from the Small Business Support Fund of the Scottish Libraries & Information Council (SLIC) which has been used to buy portable podcast recording kits and associated audio-visual equipment. Discussions with local small business owners and Business Gateway Shetland suggested there was a need for equipment to support the creation of reels, blogs and podcasts.

The Library already lends tablet computers, and this new equipment will expand the device library. Equipment can be borrowed free of charge for up to four weeks.

The open day will be an opportunity to drop along the library, see the new equipment and get a demonstration of them in action.

Nicola Sinclair, Team Leader at Shetland Library said: "The Library is here to help with digital access and these additional lendable devices give people more options. People might borrow equipment for a lot of reasons - just to try one out, or because their own one is broken, or maybe they have extra people staying over Christmas. Library staff are always happy to help. Our Adult Learning colleagues also do a drop-in help session at the Library every Monday lunchtime."

Davie Sandison Chair of the Shetland Islands Council Children and Families Committee said: "I can see a lot of opportunities for members of our community to borrow this equipment, whether that be small business, community groups or individuals. It is a great resource to make freely available and can help with communication, digital inclusion and creativity."

Digital Discovery Day is a free drop-in event, open to everyone, on Saturday 30th November from 11am - 3pm. There will be tea, biscuits and friendly staff on hand to demonstrate or lend devices.

The Library is also holding a workshop for groups and organisations the previous day, for local partners to spread the word to people who might benefit. Any interested groups not yet invited to this event can contact the library on [email protected] for more information.

Published: 20th November 2024