Local history is a very popular subject for private study and has proven to be a successful hook to engage groups of adults and families in learning.
There is a wealth of local historic and cultural information available within the archives of the Isle of Wight Council Museums Service and the County Record Office.
However 90% of this is in hard copy and of that many items are locked away in stores, as there is no spare display space. Therefore people are not aware of the full range of resources available and cannot use them to there full advantage for personal learning.
It has been recognised that it would be a great advantage for documents, artefacts, maps, plans and photographic details of collections to be available on the internet through a high quality, interactive learning website.
This would create a mine of online content in support of E-learning and E-government agendas and make materials more readily accessible.
This resource will improve customer service for users of the local history collections within libraries, museums and the County Record Office. It will also allow tourists and ex-patriot islanders access to information from anywhere in the world.
Most importantly however is the significant potential to improve and create educational opportunities in the Island, not only for formal family or adult and community learning, but also providing a resource for personal and graduate study.
The wealth of materials available offers the opportunity to learn about the Island and its history, your family, and their role in that history.