Libraries

4.37 The public library service holds an enormous range of educational material and has the potential to deliver information and learning to people of all ages and backgrounds, right across the country. The Learning Age will be supported by the development of new information and communication technology within libraries.

4.38 We have already announced that we will provide £50 million from the Lottery to provide digital content for libraries. Further proposals for the development of the public libraries IT network, which will be an integral part of the National Grid for Learning, will be published shortly.

The creative industries

4.39 To help improve economic performance in the creative industries, the Government has established a task force, chaired by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, to take a broad view of the cultural economy. A key activity will be to identify and promote the contribution lifelong learning can make to the sector’s performance.

4.40 The creative industries have an educational dimension in their own right. People learn from visits to the theatre, cinema, art galleries and museums. We also need to nurture the creative spirit in education itself. We are establishing an advisory group on creativity and innovation, chaired by Professor Ken Robinson, to look at how this can be encouraged in both schools and further and higher education.

Science and manufacturing

4.41 Science has an important contribution to make to the Learning Age. An understanding and appreciation of science is of great value throughout the world of work and also within the home and wider community. Science is also at the cutting edge of many of the new industries and products on which the UK's economic prosperity depends. Manufacturing remains essential to the United Kingdom’s economic future, and it will need a continuing supply of highly-trained, skilled employees. Technician skills will be particularly important. For example, the use of information and communication technologies is leading to a rapid growth in demand for highly skilled maintenance technicians.