Coulter urges boost for silver surfers

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has called on Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister Nelson McCausland to fund initiatives which will encourage the elderly to develop their computer skills.

Rev Dr Coulter made his appeal for the "growing silver surfer community" during questions to the Minister in the Assembly.

Dr Coulter had asked Mr McCausland what funding had been made available to the Library Service to enhance community participation and training for the elderly in the use of computers?

Responding to Dr Coulter's question, Minister McCausland said: "I have been looking carefully at the draft allocation of Libraries NI's budget for 2010-11, and we are still looking at that budget.

"The Member identified certain areas that he sees as priorities, and they are worthwhile initiatives.

"I will keep those in mind as we look at how Libraries NI sets out its budget for the incoming year. It will put its budget and business plan for the year in front of me, and, at that stage, I will bear in mind the Member's suggestions."

Rev Dr Coulter also asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what new initiatives and services Libraries Northern Ireland had been able to offer since separation from the education and library boards.

Dr Coulter added: "Mr McCausland informed me that Libraries Northern Ireland assumed responsibility for the public library service on 1 April 2009.

"Much of its work during its initial year of operation has focused on strategic issues, such as completing the transfer of responsibilities to Libraries NI and putting in place a framework for effective and efficient delivery of library services.

"This also included harmonising policies and practices from the five education and library boards to ensure a single coherent service; developing, through public consultation, the future strategic direction of library services for Northern Ireland ; and delivering the efficiencies that were projected in the review of public administration by reducing administration costs by £600,000.

"Even during its relatively short period of existence, the Minister told me a noticeable improvement to the delivery of library services is evident.

"For example, Libraries NI has invested more in the library estate in one year than was invested in any previous year. Work on a number of other projects is under way. Libraries NI has increased expenditure in library stock.

"It is on track to invest £2 per person on stock, which is an increase of more than £1 million from the previous year. It has started a £1 million project called Health in Mind to improve access to information on mental health and well-being.

"Bearing in mind what Minister McCausland told me, I warmly welcome his commitment to improving library services and especially his pledge to do what he can to encourage more elderly people to take computer training," said Rev Dr Coulter.