Libraries Learn with Digital leads in Brussels.
that could be changed to make them truly adaptable to public libraries and increase impact among their target groups.” In general, the pilot services thought the original Google resources were over- long, too American, and more suited to schools than libraries. Technical issues were not uncommon and, for some top- ics, there were already well-established resources more suited to libraries and their customers.
Taking the feedback onboard, Google now plans to develop UK versions of parts of the toolkit.
Raised eyebrows
This was the first time libraries had worked with Google in this way and it raised some eyebrows – particularly against a backdrop of adverse publicity about the tech giant at the time, which made some library staff wary of the Libraries Learn with Digital project. An article in The Times on 17 November focused on Google’s internet safety lesson plans and accusations of “blatant adver- tising” and “cherry-picking”. The article, which rightly presented both sides of the debate, essentially asked whether it was right to use learning re-sources, aimed at children, produced by organisations with clear commercial interests. For my own part, I do understand
44 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
people’s reservations but I’m no King Ca- nute. The tide turned long ago and there’s no holding it back. We don’t “search” the internet - we “Google”. The word has been listed, as a verb, in the Oxford English Dictionary since 2006. Better to work with the big players than not, in my view, and to learn from their success.
Pragmatic view
Pragmatism is evident elsewhere in the sector. Libraries Connected, formerly known as the Society of Chief Librarians, has developed a policy framework for working with commercial partners. The guiding principles are that any arrange- ments entered into should be “good for the organisation, good for libraries and – most importantly – good for users”. And, yes, they are already talking to Google. Libraries here have worked with commercial partners before – such as the Halifax and BT. In the USA, Google partnered with the ALA – an ethical organisation, well-respected around the world – on the American version of the digital toolkit. Towards the end of last year, Google announced a million dollar sponsorship grant to help the ALA roll out the Grow with Google project. Can librar- ies elsewhere afford to dismiss potential funding opportunities on that scale? I’m sure the debate will continue.
Despite the controversy, taking part in the Libraries Learn with Digital pilot proved to be an interesting and benefi- cial experience for my own authority. It was an excellent learning and development opportunity for staff and the first time we’d had the chance to work with PL2020.
As ever, networking opportunities – particularly with Irish library services – were much appreciated. The pilot project leads met face-to-face, in Lon- don (at Google’s offices) and Brussels, and this helped to cement new working relationships. There is definitely an intention to keep in touch. Most importantly, a new toolkit of digital resources is now available – free of charge – to any library services that want to use it – visit Libraries Lead with Digital at
https://bit.ly/2TywAJL Finally, this was a pilot project and clearly there is more to do. We are now working with Google on the next steps. IP
March 2019
Testing Google's Digi Resources
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