Re: The Supported Learning Centre of the City Lit (London)

2005-05-31T17:13:56Z

Guiseppe, welcome to this international forum! I'm glad to hear more voices from different countries adding to this discussion.

The Piazze Telematiche looks like quite an ambitious project on a wide regional scale. Since I could only read the English version of the proposal (thank the web developers for providing that much!), I wasn't clear who is implementing this project, when it will be realized, and where the funding will come from. I did find this information:

For implementing and managing the civic PIAZZE TELEMATICHE infrastructure, should be set up a joint company with mixed public and private capitals (public bodies, telecommunications companies, informatic companies, publishing companies, building companies, banks, professional associations, etc.).

There is some discussion in this forum about the need for this kind of large scale financing and networking, usually from the government or a significant benefactor, or both. The big question and challenge is the extent to which small communities or regions without the government support and infrastructure can realistically hope/expect to participate in the 'digital age' any time soon.

The Supported Learning Centre of the City Lit (London)

2005-05-28T20:45:43Z

Even though I represent the Piazze Telematiche non profit Association http://www.piazzetelematiche.it , at the moment Ihave being living in London and Im not in the position to know what is going on with the first Urban Pilot Project of the Piazza Telematica in Scampia (Naples - Italy) that has been inaugurated last December 2004 - http://www.piazzetelematiche.it/1994-2005/eumedishome.html .

I take in any case this opportunity to describe my direct experience as an adult student at the City Lit - http://www.citylit.ac.uk/ where I can benefit of a
Supported Learning Centre - http://www.citylit.ac.uk/sas_learn_cen.php - that includes lending library, computer facilities and study skills support. Further information about Study Skills can be found in a leaflet available to the Librarys reception.

As an adult student I have access to a wide range of resources including books, audio and video cassettes, CD-Rom's, journals and newspapers, Internet access, Microsoft Office and graphics packages, computer aided language courses, basic IT starter sessions and typing tutorials. There is a small charge for printing e photocopies.

The lending Library resources are chosen to reflect the courses taught at City Lit, and to help adult students in their studies. Subjects include: art, computing, drama, counselling, deaf awareness, education & training, history, languages, literature, music, philosophy, psychology and sociology.

An electronic catalogue - http://heritage.citylit.ac.uk/ - is provided by the Heritage Library Management System - http://www.isoxford.com/ - Heritage IV is an advanced and elegant library management system which is designed and supported by IS Oxford in the UK. Suitable for special, medical and legal libraries, colleges, schools, charities and other resource centres.