NEW COMPUTERS TURN A PAGE IN HIGHLAND LIBRARY PROJECT STORY

News Release
Issued on behalf of Fujitsu, The Highland Council and High Life Highland

• Computer upgrades for Highland libraries
• Programme to improve public access
• Users now have better, faster and easier to use service 

Pic caption - Librarian Julie Corcoran shows Alastair Millar, Fujitsu Service Manager on The Highland Council project (left) and council convener Councillor Jimmy Gray how the new computers work at Inverness Library.

A major project to bring Highland libraries’ public access PCs up to date has been completed.

The £260,000 initiative has seen The Highland Council, High Life Highland and IT specialists Fujitsu work together to replace 175 PCs across the Highlands with new, faster and more user-friendly computers for the thousands of people who log on each year.

Following the upgrade, the public access computers are now running Windows 7, up-to-date versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome and Microsoft Office. New software packages also allow video and photo editing as well as the ability to download from the library e-book and e-audio book sites and to copy files to most smart devices.

Another significant benefit to users is the ability to install their own software on the machines. As before, the PCs are restored to their original clean state at the end of their session to protect privacy.

IT specialists replaced four servers, which involved a complex procedure to manage access, age-appropriate web filtering and software, and upgraded all printers at the same time as rolling out the PCs.

The system has also been re-designed to allow new software to be installed or removed remotely rather than having to visit each PC manually as before.

The project was funded by The Highland Council and managed by High Life Highland, a charitable trust established on 1st October 2011 to deliver a Highland wide suite of community learning and leisure services on behalf of The Highland Council. High Life Highland operates a network of 61 community and school libraries across the region.

Linda Kirkland, chair of the High Life Highland board, said:  “I am delighted that High Life Highland library users will be able to enjoy these new state of the art public access computers. The new PCs are modern, quick, user-friendly and offer a range of additional services which will be welcomed by our many customers. Credit should go to our partners The Highland Council and Fujitsu for helping to achieve this. I am sure the benefit will be felt by users for many years to come.”

Fujitsu and the council developed a partnership during the £66 million programme to upgrade the authority’s office and school networks. The library upgrades were done in addition to that programme.

Alastair Millar, Fujitsu Service Manager on The Highland Council project, said: “This was a major undertaking to refresh the public access computers across such a wide geographical area.

“However these PCs are extremely well used and can be vital for people who need access to a computer but don’t have a home PC as well as visitors to the area. The new machines will make a huge difference to users and provide faster and more reliable facilities for communities in a number of locations.”

Logging on to the new machines will work in exactly the same way as before as will the length of sessions available.

Jimmy Gray, convener of The Highland Council, said: “Working together with High Life Highland and Fujitsu we are empowering communities in the Highlands by delivering progressive and innovative library services.”

The new PCs are provided at –

• Inverness – lending library (13)  and reference library (7)
  Ardersier (2)
  Culloden (6)
  Inshes (2)
  Inverness Gaelic School (1)
  Library Support Unit (1)
  Glenurquhart (2)
• Nairn (6)
• Aviemore (4)
  Badenoch (2)
  Grantown (2)
• Alness (8)
  Beauly (1)
  Dingwall (8)
  Fortrose (2)
  Invergordon (5)
  Lochcarron (2)
  Muir of Ord (2)
  Ullapool (4)
  Gairloch (4)
  Cromarty (2)
  Tain (4)
  Plockton (1)
• Fort William (11)
  Ardnamurchan (2)
  Caol (3)
  Mallaig (3)
  Kinlochleven (5)
• Bonar Bridge (2)
  Brora (4)
  Helmsdale (2)
  Dornoch (3)
  Lairg (2)
  Golspie (2)
• Wick (6)
  Thurso (6)
• Portree (8)
  Broadford (1)
  Kyle (2)

In addition, eight computers have been upgraded at Inverness Archive Centre, two at the Spectrum Centre, in Inverness; three at the Dingwall ABE (Adult Basic Education), two at the Skye Archive Centre and one at the Wick Archive Centre. Five others (three in Inverness and two in Fort William) to help manage the booking system.

For more information on Fujitsu please contact

John Ross, Lucid PR
01463 724593; 07730 099617
johnross@lucidemessages.com

For information on High Life Highland

Laurie Piper
Marketing and Communications Manager
High Life Highland
01349 860 814 / 07557 566 488
laurie.piper@highlifehighland.com

For The Highland Council
Gordon Fyfe
01463 702022
Gordon.fyfe@hgihland.gov.uk

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