EU citizens lack e-skills: the role of libraries in the Digital Revolution

2017 is around the corner and the 'Digital Revolution' is taking over most aspects of our personal and professional lives. As a result, the demand for e-skills is increasing drastically. In 2015, approximately 90% of jobs required basic computer skills and yet nearly 50% of the EU population had little or no internet skills.

1.9 million EU citizens go to public libraries because it is the only place they can access free internet. To those nearly 2 million people, libraries are a crucial link to the digital revolution and so much more.  

Social inclusion also means digital inclusion

With the advancement of technology over the past few decades, e-readers have become increasingly popular. It is crucial to recognise the digitalisation of activities such as reading in our libraries.

As public institutions that serve their local communities, libraries need to harness the potential of technology and become a place for introducing digital literacy as a means for the future. Indeed, many of them have already joined this digital revolution.

In 2015, approximately 90% of jobs required basic computer skills and yet nearly 50% of the EU population had little or no internet skills

Social inclusion has long been an EU priority, but digital inclusion is just as important. People visiting libraries still need the traditional cultural and educational services they provide, but they want those services to reflect this modern age. They want to be able to access digitalised books and all sources of information available for everybody on equal terms, with equal rights, here in the European Union. I believe we all must work together to empower libraries to deliver this.

Empowering public libraries to offer digital education

That is why on 18-19 October, during the 2016 EU Code Week, I co-hosted the interactive exhibition “Generation Code: born at the library” at the European Parliament, together with like-minded MEPs from the major political groups - my colleagues, MEPs Sean Kelly, Eva Paunova, Michal Boni from the EPP Group and MEP Catherine Stihler.

The European advocacy project for public libraries - ‘Public Libraries 2020’ - organised the exhibition to showcase interactive technology from public libraries, and offered many engaging activities that highlighted the importance of digital learning in EU policy-making. Run by the Reading & Writing Foundation of the Netherlands, the project’s philosophy falls not only in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy but also with societal developments in the digital revolution.

As public institutions that serve their local communities, libraries need to harness the potential of technology and become a place for introducing digital literacy as a means for the future

Launching the “Generation Code: born at the library” exhibition, HRH Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, founder and President of the Reading & Writing Foundation, and European Commissioner Tibor Navracsics highlighted the importance of empowering Europe’s 65,000 public libraries to offer coding and digital education.

It is not only an honour but also crucial to have such high-level public figures involved with such innovative initiatives to support digital inclusion. This is especially important if you consider that 22% of the EU population has never used the Internet.

Every year, 24 million adults participate in learning activities in public libraries; this includes 2.3 million who take computer training classes in their public library

I have no doubt that in the aftermath of “Generation Code: born at the library”, public libraries will lead the way into the future of digital skills development for jobs and for life.

Everyone that visited the exhibition in the European Parliament entered a world of digital change and new experiences – digital time travelling, 3D printing, virtual reality tours, programming and robotics. It was a symbolic but serious example for my MEP colleagues and other decision-makers of how public libraries are currently expanding their traditional role in local communities across the EU.

The transformation of libraries

Today, visitors of many public libraries have the opportunity to learn to code and discover that coding can be used to solve big and small problems, express creativity, and even help them to get a job. This incredible transformation is an important step in the Digital Revolution.

You didn’t think that kind of thing happened in your local library? Visit it - you might be surprised at how it has changed since the last time you were there.

You don’t have any digital or coding activities taking place in your library now? Write to me and I will connect you with a digital library champion in your country so that together you can make this transformation a reality.

Visitors of many public libraries have the opportunity to learn to code and discover that coding can be used to solve big and small problems, express creativity, and even help them to get a job

Every year, 24 million adults participate in learning activities in public libraries; this includes 2.3 million who take computer training classes in their public library. It is clear that libraries have a special role to play in offering easy - and nearly always free - digital access, without barriers (such as age limit, background, existing skills) as to who can participate in learning activities.

Become an ambassador for digital libraries

In accordance with the European Commission's agenda on e-skills, awareness of the need for digital skills for employability purposes should be used to push for a greater digitalisation of public libraries throughout the EU. Now we need action, not only words.

We have to take responsibility for literacy in the digital future

We need more active digital library ambassadors across the EU.

During the exhibition on “Generation Code: born at the library”, the MEP Library Lovers interest group was launched to support and promote the amazing work of public libraries across the EU. Over 50 MEPs from across the EU and from both sides of the political spectrum who are passionate about libraries have joined in already.

It took me and my team only 4 months to organise more than 50 CoderDojo lessons and teach coding to more than a thousand kids and young people, as well as set up 10 active, weekly coding clubs in different regions of Lithuania

I can share my own experience: public libraries are extremely open to cooperation in embracing digital literacy. It took me and my team only 4 months to organise more than 50 CoderDojo lessons and teach coding to more than a thousand kids and young people, as well as set up 10 active, weekly coding clubs in different regions of Lithuania. That happened with the huge organisational support and great infrastructure of public libraries.

Public libraries are extremely open to cooperation in embracing digital literacy

We have to take responsibility for literacy in the digital future. Sometimes we do not need to reinvent the wheel, we just need to make use of the means we have. Libraries are an important part of this process.

Around 5 million people start using computers to access Internet at public libraries. We need to make sure we don’t overlook the huge potential of libraries to contribute to policies in the Digital Single Market.