Policies and strategies
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OVERVIEW
This entry provides details on digital policies and strategies that cover the whole of the UK and those applicable to each of the four Home Nations. A selection of sector-related strategic documents is included. The entry also lists useful policy documents from other countries and there is a separate article on developing policies and strategies for digital content programmes.
Context
Published policies and strategies are important tools in the development of the new online content programme and the development of existing services. At the national level they can provide a framework to ensure that public services develop within a consistent set of objectives to achieve defined goals, while at sector and at local level they enable consistency of approach and also, most important, increase the ability for development to co-operate and interoperate.
Along with many other nations, the United Kingdom and the Home Nations have developed policies, strategies and frameworks that address national digital priorities. Governments have recognised the importance of the new digital technologies to social and economic well-being and these policies and strategies are intended to give strategic direction to public investment for the direct benefit of individuals and communities or indirect support to build the skills and opportunities that will enable new industries to develop.
It is important to note that alongside these digiital policies and strategies there will be national and local strategies for the institution or sector defining audiences, service priorities and outcomes. For example, in England services provided by local government will be guided both by the broad policy framework set by the Department for Communities and Local Government and by the strategic priorities set by the particular local council. Similar situations exist in the other Home National and also to the university sector where wider national strategic direction and institutional priorities will need to be considered.
United Kingdom
Within the UK there are policies and strategies that have relevance to all four of the Home Nations. Some of these address the broad, government-wide policy implications of digital developments, from the importance of ensuring that every citizen has easy access to online resources and service to the development of a society that as a digital economy is a global leader. Other policies and strategies relate more specifically to the application of digital techniques to the management and exploiting of knowledge assets both in the curation and their use as resources in support of learning and personal development. Both categories are relevant to an understanding of priorities and opportunities, but the latter will be more directly relevant to anyone developing digital services in support of knowledge, learning and research.
Government wide
Since 2007 there have been a number of national initiatives in support of strategies to position the UK at the leading edge of digital economies. In 2007 Ed Mayo and Tom Steinberg prepared for Government Power of Information: An Independent Review (2007) which made a significant contribution to thinking about the ways in which government has to adapt itself to a world in which most people regularly use the internet. Also in 2008 the Government created the Power of InformationTask Force in response to the Mayo and Steinberg report. Over a period of 9 months, the Task Force developed further the agenda set out in the report. The Task Force brought together a group from government, industry and the third sector who all share a passion for using ICT to enable better public service delivery. Power of Information Review: Government Response; Power of Information Taskforce Report.
Digital Britain In October 2008 the UK Government commissioned Lord Stephen Carter, Minister for Communications and Broadcasting to produce “a comprehensive analysis of our digital economy… the work has at its core an ambition to accelerate the rate of growth, and cement the UK’s position as a world leader in the knowledge and learning economy to produce an action plan to secure the UK’s place at the forefront of innovation, investment and quality in the digital and communications industries”. (DCMS press release). Digital Britain: final report.
The culmination of these reviews was the passing in April 2010 of the Digital Economy Act. (link to Act and supporting information). Reading the supporting factsheet it will be evident that the creation and curation of digital knowledge objects does not feature as a significant element of the Act, or indeed within the original Digital Britain report. Nevertheless, it is important for all those involved in the application of digital techniques within the public sector to understand the scope of Government policy and the priorities that are set, not least since such an understanding can help with the alignment of service developments within those prioties.
Policies and programmes relevant to the knowledge, learning and research sectors
Cabinet Office Govtalk is the is the Cabinet Office site for debate and development on all aspects of the Govenment's online policies. While the resources currently on the site are somewhat dated, it will be important to check for new additions or updated guidelines since the Government expects all publicly funding digital projects to conform to the standards on this site.
British Library has produced two strategic documents worth consideration in the development of policy and strategy: Digitisation Strategy 2008-11; Digital Preservation Strategy
Informal Learning. The Learning Revolution, was launched on 23 March 2009 and sets out the Government's strategy for informal learning. Government recognises the profound importance of informal adult learning to people’s lives and our nation’s well-being. Informal learning can help people gain personal satisfaction, development and fulfilment. For the low skilled and with poor experiences of formal education, informal learning can be an important stepping stone to further learning, qualifications and more rewarding work. It can help keep people mentally and physically active and independent into old age. It can also bring people and communities together.
Higher and Further Education: The JISC Strategy 2010-2012 over the next three years will help the sector meet the economic challenges facing it while maintaining the quality and productivity that has made the UK’s further and higher education and research sectors world class. This requires continuing to fund and develop the major shared services of online scholarly and academic resources, the JANET network, and focused advice and guidance to help the community exploit ICT as effectively as possible. Our innovation activities will be focused on shorter term outputs in areas that have the potential to cut costs: shared services, green ICT, cloud computing, Software as a Service, and management information requirements. Innovation to improve the effectiveness of learning and teaching will continue focused on student progression and retention, and approaches to improving research collaboration techniques will continue to be promoted. Our longer term commitments to the open agenda will also be maintained, including open source, Open Access, open educational resources, and supporting open research and open innovation.
Collections Trust - The Collections Trust is a UK -wide body tha provides services and guidelines for digitisation and digital asset management for collecting institutions of all types. It has also recently produce a report to the European Commission Report to the EC on Digitisation and Digital Preservation in the UK (2010)
The National Archives has produced a strategy for the development of its online services: Provide and Enable: the National Archives Online Strategy
The Digital Preservation Coalition has produced a range of documents of relevance including a Preservation Handbook intended as a simple but comprehensive guide to Digital Preservation planning for all kinds of projects and institutions.
England
Policy and strategy documents
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), the strategic body for England, has commissioned a range of policy and strategic guidance covering the application of digital technolgies in museums, libraries and archives. The MLA has had close relationships with the Collections Trust, Culture 24 and UKOLN and the MLA site contains a range of links to useful guidance developed by those institutions.
The Department for Culture, media and Sport has responsibility for digital strategy within its department remit and has produced a range of documents examining the impact of those technologies particularly on the media. These provide background rather than providing direct guidance on the creation and curation of digital content.
Northern Ireland
Policy and strategy documents
Invest Northern Ireland, in conjunction with relevant Northern Ireland government departments () has produced The Northern Ireland Digital Content Strategy, designed to provide impetus to all aspects of the Northern Irelans digital content industry.
The Library and Information Services Council (LISC NI) is the umbrella body for libraries and information providers from the public, academic, government, voluntary and commercial sectors. LISC promotes high standards in library and information services throughout Northern Ireland.
Digital content programmes in Northern Ireland
LISC (NI) maintains a register of digital projects and programmes in Northern Ireland
Scotland
Policy and strategy documents
Openscotland Information Age Framework The Openscotland Information Age Framework (OSIAF) was developed by the Scottish Executive and its public service delivery partners in Scotland. It sets out standards and specifications to be used by the Scottish public sector and it provides a Scottish framework for developing and approving interoperability specifications that support the delivery of electronic services. 
Museums Galleries Scotland have produced Digital Content Access Framework which presents an action plan for all aspects of the digital lifecycle.
Digital Access Scotland (DAS) is a new forum to encourage and improve digital access to Scotland’s archives, libraries and museums. Set up under a Memorandum of Understanding between Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC); Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS); Scottish Council on Archives (SCA); National Archives of Scotland (NAS); National Galleries of Scotland (NGS); National Library of Scotland (NLS); National Museums Scotland (NMS); Historic Scotland and Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland RCAHMS, incorporating SCRAN), DAS’s vision is to enable all citizens to digitally access the wealth of information and resources held in Scotland’s libraries museums and archives and to maximize the potential use and reach of these resources. In 2010, The Royal Society of Edinburgh published Digital Scotland an interim report for consultation to explore how technological change could be stimulated and exploited for economic and social benefit within the particular economic, social and geographic context of Scotland.
Digital content programmes in Scotland include:
The Digital Futures of Cultural Heritage Education project
Digital Access Scotland (Open Spaces event report)
GLOW - Learning and Teaching Scotland's online curriculum programme
Creativity Portal - Portal for projects developed under the auspices of Learning and Teaching Scotland
SCRAN - Scran - part of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland - aims to provide educational access to digital materials representing our material culture and history. The learning resource service hosts 360,000 images, movies and sounds from museums, galleries, archives and the media. It can be used as a superior form of clip art or for particular learning applications.
Wales
Policy and strategy documents
1.Digital Wales is the Welsh Assembly Government’s strategy to help deliver digital skills for everyone, improved online public services, faster infrastructure and enhanced mobile coverage. Through Digital Wales we’re committed to a smarter, better connected society and economy, and finding answers to key questions such as:
- How can we ensure that everyone in Wales can enjoy the benefits of digital technology?
- How can our businesses use digital technologies to innovate and grow?
- How can we use digital technology to deliver better, faster and more efficient public services?
A briefing document is available on the Strategic Framework for delivering Digital Wales.
2.Delivering Digital Inclusion: A Strategic Framework for Wales sets out the Welsh Assembly Government’s vision of strategic leadership for digital inclusion. This document was published in December 2010.
3. The Heart of Digital Wales was an independent review of the Welsh Assembly Government’s activities in the field of the creative industries. Professor Ian Hargreaves was appointed to lead this review in July 2009 and the report was published in March 2010.
4. House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee: Digital Inclusion in Wales: Report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 21 July 2009. Contents include sections on the extent of digital exclusion in Wales, access to technology and broadband, barriers to take-up and details of digital inclusion projects. The report also covers skills to sue the technology and the risks associated with it.
5. Bevan Foundation: Digital Wales, Divided Wales. July 2009. This report reviews existing research and data on broadband take-up in Wales. It finds that there are marked geographical variations in Wales with the south Wales Valleys and parts of large towns having the lowest rates of broadband take-up. Rural Wales has amongst the highest levels of
take-up in the UK. The report also finds that the ‘digital divide’ closely parallels social divisions. Older people, lower social groups, and disabled people are much less likely to take-up broadband and internet than other people.
6. Consumer Focus Wales: Logged In Or Locked Out? Consumer Access To The Internet In Wales. Nov 2009
This report draws together a wealth of data on internet access collected by the Welsh Consumer Council and subsequently Consumer Focus Wales over a period totalling ten years. It aims to provide key data to policy makers and service providers and to inform the development of strategies to encourage further take up of the internet and the way information is provided to consumers
Digital content programmes in Wales (link to separate Digipedia page)
Australia
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy: Australia's Digital Economy: Future Directions (2009)
National Library of Australia: Collection Digitisation Policy (2009)
National Library of Australia: Digital Preservation Policy (2008)
Collections Council: Digital Standards Bibliiography (2009)
Canada
Canadian Heritage Information Network: Digital Heritage Content Strategy
Europe
European Commission: Digital Agenda for Europe 2010-20
European Commission: i2010 A European Information Society for Growth and Employment
European Commission: MINERVA Knowledge Base: digitising content together
European Parliament: Report on a New Digital Agenda for Europe 2015 (download pdf)
Europeana: ThoughtLab
Finland
Ireland
Knowledge Society Strategy: Technology Actions to Support the Smart Economy (2010)
New Zealand
Government for digital content:DigitalNZ
Ministy of Economic Development: Digital Strategy 2.0 (2008)
Norway
Briefing document for the European Commission: eInclusion Factsheet
OECD
Policy Guidance on Digital Content (2008)
UNESCO
UNESCO Content Development Programme
United States of America
Library of Congress: Digitisation Strategy
The National Archives: Strategy for Digitizing Archival Materials for Public Access, 2007-16
Institute of Museum and Library Services: NISO Framework of Guidance for Building Good Digital Content
Related Digipedia articles
Developing policies and strategies for digital content
Digital content: an introduction
Digital content programmes: Wales
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Power of information taskforce report
Further information
Department of Culture, Media and Sport
Digital Preservation Coalition
JISC Digitisation and eContent
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Resources harvested from other services
[[Role::strategy manager]] [[Role::policy maker]] [[Goal::developing]] [[Goal::national strategy]] [[Level::basic]] [[Level::medium]] [[Level::deep]]
