This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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learndirect first for Aberdeenshire
03/07/2003
The first learndirect scotland branded library in the Aberdeenshire Council area has been set up at Stonehaven.
Presenting a plaque to mark the occasion, Lewis Macdonald, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, said it would help local people more easily access learning opportunities using new technologies and other library resources.
"I'm delighted to be here at Stonehaven Library to see for myself how learndirect scotland and the People's Network are helping people make the most of their potential.
"Creating the conditions for growth is the Scottish Executive's top priority and a key to achieving this is a skilled workforce. It is important therefore that we make learning accessible, that it is available to people when, where and how it suits their needs.
" Learndirect scotland's role is to promote learning in partnership with other organisations and this learning centre in a library is an excellent example of this. I congratulate Stonehaven Library on its new centre."
Stonehaven Library is the first library in Aberdeenshire to obtain learndirect scotland branding.
It is also linked to the People's Network, the information network of all public libraries in Scotland, linking libraries to each other and to the Internet.
Chief Executive of learndirect scotland Frank Pignatelli said :
"Our goal is to bring learning opportunities into the very heart of local communities and to make learning as accessible as possible for all.
"By using venues like libraries, which local people are already comfortable visiting and by offering a range of services to help develop skills and knowledge, centres such as this are effective both in meeting local needs and in making best use of available public resources.
"We are delighted to welcome Stonehaven Library to our national network of 412 learning centres and look forward to continuing our successful partnership with both Aberdeenshire Council and the libraries network."