The Get Online Week campaign in Sweden was promoted by Digidel 2013 that aims to join forces to get at least another 500.000 Swedes to start using the Internet before the end of 2013. Libraries, study associations and companies across the country made extra efforts to get more people to discover the potential of the Internet.
At the City Library in Jönköping the focus was to present useful online self-services open 24/7 and e-society facilities. The aim was also to show the enjoyable side of Internet for both pleasure and distraction. In cooperation with important institutions from the e-service society and public services (Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Jönköping County Council, the Municipality of Jönköping and the bank SEB) the program consisted of guidance on how to use digital services to simplify every day life and to encourage people to discover the advantages of e-service facilities.
The Get Online Week campaign in Sweden was promoted by Digidel 2013 that aims to join forces to get at least another 500.000 Swedes to start using the Internet before the end of 2013. Libraries, study associations and companies across the country made extra efforts to get more people to discover the potential of the Internet.
In total, Swedish organizations reached 3.425 people. Never before so many Swedes have done so much at the same time to make people try the Internet. The result was much above the expectations, as 71% more people were reached above the target set on 2.000.
The Swedish Minister of IT, Ms Anna-Karin Hatt, supported the campaign and visited a library in Stockholm to participate in an IT instruction course.
Get Online Week Top 3 in Sweden:
• Fantastic effort throughout Sweden from all involved people who want to help others get online!
• Get Online Week was on Swedish television and received extense media coverage both locally and nationally.
• More people have become aware of digital participation and more people want to help
Some examples of activities:
- In the four libraries of Örebro, most of the activities were drop-in activities. They showed every person what he or she asked for and wanted to know about the Internet.
The program “Knitting at the Internet” showed how to use your computer while knitting and was very popular. “How to buy and use self-service at the Internet” also had a lot of visitors.
The young It-guides were very popular as they speak other languages than swedish, which was appreciated. During the week, Örebro had a total of 116 visitors. - In Katrineholm several activities were arranged, focusing on diversity in order to reach different groups in the society.
They arranged three digital days with each a different focus, but held together by the idea of inclusion and raising curiosity to approach the digital world.
There was a drop in computer/internet guidance session, mainly for the elderly. The adult educational association Ibn Rushd in collaboration with the Library of Katrineholm arrangea lecture on how to get online in the classroom.
In the physical room, activities on the Internet (for example #twitterpoesi), were connected with things going on in the physical room. A fair offered help on how to use the website and the digital services of the library.Visitors also had the chance to try out tablets, computers, blogging and so on. Lectures on social media and useful digital tools were given.
In collaboration with the local Genealogical Research Association the visitors were offered a chance to get started with research on their heritage. Also the local group of Sweden’s Embroidery Guild was a partner in the fair, connecting sewing with digital technique. A digital storytelling session was held too, with a digital workshop (which included drawing on a tablet, making an e-book and advice on apps) for children and their parents. The participants during the week were in the ages from 2 years old to over 90 years old. Approximately 100 people took part in the activities. 
The library of Mjölby made a program with demonstrations every second hour at the main library, and possibility to get personal guiding every hour in between. Topics varied from library topics on databases and catalogue, talking books for people with disabilities, e-books and modern technology in the information area, to a wide range of topics. Selling and buying, digital photo, play-tv, music, travels, genealogy, business management, social security, energy saving and children’s amusement. Our most unique topics were military history and “How I found my husband on the Internet 10 years ago”.
They cooperated with a bank, social security, adult educational associations and the regional library and museum. They spread the program and poster widely – in food shops, health centers, dentists, barbershops, restaurants, gas stations, receptions etc. They sent letters to organisations and homes for elderly.
They had a rather large ad in the local paper and a small one in another local paper. The latter made an interview for their local tv-channel. 160 persons attended demonstrations and guiding during the week. They were very few totally beginners, most of the visitors had used the Internet but felt insecure.- At the City Library in Jönköping the focus was to present useful online self-services open 24/7 and e-society facilities. The aim was also to show the enjoyable side of Internet for both pleasure and distraction. In cooperation with important institutions from the e-service society and public services (Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Jönköping County Council, the Municipality of Jönköping and the bank SEB) the program consisted of guidance on how to use digital services to simplify every day life and to encourage people to discover the advantages of e-service facilities.
The librarians also demonstrated how to use Twitter, Facebook, E-book Reader, digital maps and how to download digital books. Especially appreciated were several of the computer games mainly free of charge for adults – the Swedish knowledge competition game Kunskapsjakten, Bejeweled and other free online games from the PopCap Games website and also the online version of Battlefield, the famous Swedish video game. The national Swedish Radio visited the library the last day and broadcasted interviews with some of the participants.
» Download the complete report of Get Online Week 2012 in Sweden
