helen.blanchett@netskills.ac.uk

Helen Blanchett (previously Helen Conroy) joined Netskills in 1998 and during that time has taken on a range of roles and projects. She is currently a Consultant Trainer and also has particular responsibility at Netskills for the quality assurance of training materials.

With a background in libraries, Helen has an MSc in Information Studies from Loughborough University and has worked in libraries at Glasgow University and Manchester Metropolitan University. She also had a brief stint as a volunteer at the American Library Association in Chicago. She is chartered with CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) and is currently the Communications Officer for CILIP's Personnel Training and Education Group (PTEG).

Helen's professional interests and expertise include:

• Information skills, including effective search strategies and search engine developments
• e-Learning, particularly the use of the internet to support and deliver lifelong learning in public libraries and Adult and Community Learning
• Accessibility issues and how the web can be used to widen participation
• Quality assurance in delivering training and creating training materials

During her time at Netskills Helen has been involved in developing and delivering a range of programmes to different sectors,including a highly successful three year programme of training to public library authorities as part of the Lottery-funded People's Network project. Helen has also run programmes for Specialist Colleges and Adult and Community Learning tutors, the latter being funded by NIACE (National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education).

Helen has worked on a range of information literacy projects, including several projects under the JISC Staff Information Skills Set programme, and the Eduserv Information Literacy Intitiative.