Library Digital Inclusion Fund Action Research Project

In September 2015, following consultation with the Libraries Taskforce, Tinder Foundation (now Good Things Foundation) launched the Library Digital Inclusion Fund, a six-month action research project that ran from 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016. The £100,000 fund was open to libraries that already had WiFi installed, and aimed to help them engage hard-to-reach library users who were socially and digitally excluded, delivering basic digital skills training through innovative delivery models using WiFi and mobile technology as enablers. Tinder Foundation, described as the UK's leading digital inclusion organisation, works closely with public libraries and manages a national network of more than 2,900 UK online centres, with public libraries and the Libraries Taskforce as the key stakeholders in this fund.

Library services receiving funding were expected to run action research pilots to: (1) test and learn from a range of library delivery models using WiFi and mobile technology to support development of digital skills, both within and outside the library setting; (2) identify the cost per head of delivering digital skills training and digital inclusion activities in libraries, particularly for delivery models that support hard-to-reach groups; and (3) identify universal or flexible online methods of tracking digital skills development that could be used across libraries nationally to manage digital inclusion activities and evidence impact to stakeholders.

Funding was awarded to 16 library services located around the country, enabling them to run action research pilots using WiFi and mobile technology as enablers for basic digital skills training and engagement of digitally excluded users.

The project estimated an average cost per head of delivering digital inclusion activities of approximately £40. It calculated that beneficiaries moving from face-to-face and telephone contact to online channels would generate potential cost savings of more than £800,000 per annum - more than £492 per person supported - across local and national government services in the areas where participating library services operated.

The record indicates an evaluation was carried out, but detailed key learning points and information sources are not documented, which limits independent assessment of the project's findings beyond the cost estimates reported.