Last year a new initiative was pioneered by Dundee Central Library, which introduced digital devices, such as iPads, e-Book Readers, iPods and Mp3 players into the Community, for use with individuals , organisations and groups of previously digitally excluded people.
This project offered an alternative way to deliver Library Services, and information, to users who had problems accessing mainstream libraries.
Such was the success of this venture, that ,earlier this year an additional bid for funding was submitted to SLIC (Scottish Libraries and Information Council), to assist with the future development of this scheme. This application was successful, and has now enabled the digital devices programme to be extended and enhanced, by offering free internet services in areas, and to individuals, who previously did not have online internet access. Sim cards and Mi-Fi's have been purchased to allow users to connect to internet services no matter where they are at the time.
This project will now enable people such as Housebound users, or groups in the Community who do not have Wi-Fi, or an internet connections, in their agency, or organisation, the opportunity to discover the many uses of the internet. Funding was also granted to allow a number of specialised Apps to be purchased, which would further benefit digitally excluded groups, individuals, and organisations in Dundee. Elderly residents in care home, and sheltered housing complexes, will now, for example, be able to access local reminiscence material online, including the 'Live Archive' and 'Bygone Dundee' sites on the Library WebPages, and they can now interact by using these devices to add their own stories.
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