THOUSANDS of pensioners in North Yorkshire will be surfing the web in the county’s libraries from today thanks to a new high-speed broadband connection provided by Boroughbridge-based NYnet.

This follows an upgrade to the libraries’ internet connection on to the NYnet network as part of a major contract with North Yorkshire County Council. It will enable the 42 library-based UK online centres in North Yorkshire to access free IT and computer skills training on myguide – a free, easy to use web platform and suite of courses. The service is being launched as part of Digital Unite’s Silver Surfers’ Day, a national campaign to highlight the importance of providing older people with access to the internet.

A third of all UK adults and an estimated ten million older people lack the necessary computer skills to enable them to compete in the workplace and to participate in an increasingly digital society. There are still three per cent of households that have no internet access. The issue of digital inclusion is set to become increasingly important as the UK’s population ages and according to the latest Age Concern figures, there will be more than one million pensioners in Yorkshire by 2011.

As part of the initiative, NYnet will be providing libraries with super-fast broadband, allowing the UK online centres in each library to make the most of myguide.

This is freely available to all at myguide.gov.uk and the website has been designed for web novices and includes a stripped back and simplified search facility, a free email account and short courses in everything from how to use a mouse to how to stay safe online.

David Cullen, NYnet chief executive, said: “NYnet has played a very important role in providing high-speed broadband to the public sector and business parks in North Yorkshire to stimulate the region’s economy. However, this initiative to supply North Yorkshire’s libraries with high-speed broadband will enable ordinary members of the public with tangible benefits of the NYnet connection. “Digital inclusion is a key priority for the Government over the next three years and through partnerships with organisations such as UK online centres, NYnet will increasingly be at the forefront in opening up access to digital technologies.”

Silver Surfers’ Day aims to highlight the importance of digital inclusion for the elderly and will see older people from across Yorkshire learning computer skills - many for the first time.

The annual awareness day aims to highlight the lack of IT skills and internet access for older people and help bridge the digital divide by promoting the advantages that both computers and the internet can bring to people’s everyday lives.

These include helping isolated communities stay in touch with the outside world, helping individuals learn new skills and find new or better jobs and access community and government services.