The vast majority of public libraries offer free IT courses for their older users. Some do so in
conjunction with Digital Unite, a digital literacy organisation that administers the nationally recognised Level 2 Digital Champion Information Technology Qualification (ITQ) and offers free
online resources for those wishing to teach IT skills to others. Digital Unite are also behind the
award-winning Silver Surfer’s Day campaign (launched 2002), now called Spring Online, that
witnesses public libraries and other local organisations providing older people with a taste of what
modern technology has to offer them. The latest statistics from Age UK (2013, p.4), suggest that
“over two thirds of all digital exclusion is among those aged 65 and over”. Public libraries are
tackling this problem head on; giving older people the confidence to embrace the digital age.