Dutch Public libraries embrace e-Safety package for parents and children Amsterdam, April 1, 2009 – Digivaardig & Digibewust and Cable & Media Company UPC Nederland today made a special information package available to all public libraries, intended to support safe internet access. The package, called Gezinspakket eSafety [eSafety family package] brims with useful information and instructive games for parents and children. Anybody interested is able to obtain a copy. The package may also be downloaded or ordered at www.upc.nl/gezinspakket.

Hans van Velzen, Director of Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam, the Amsterdam public libraries, today received the eSafety Family Package on behalf of all public libraries from Ritchy Drost, CFO of UPC Nederland. In his acceptance statement Van Velzen said, “The public libraries in the Netherlands wish to function as reliable signposts in a dynamic media landscape. That wish also applies to parents who have questions about media use and media behavior. The eSafety package will enable us to provide parents and children with practical information about safe Web surfing.”

The Gezinspakket eSafety is an initiative of Insafe (the European network of e-safety awareness nodes, co-financed by the European Commission), and has been issued in several European countries. UPC and Digivaardig & Digibewust both contributed to the creation of the package. “The Internet offers us a world of unprecedented possibilities. UPC is delighted to be able to open that world up to everybody. However, in the process we must keep an eye on the risks the Web may bring with it, particularly for young people. The eSafety package will help children recognize the risks involved in Internet access, and enable parents to allow their children to surf the Web safely”, according to Ritchy Drost.

The Vereniging van Openbare Bibliotheken [Netherlands Public Library Association] and UPC Nederland are partners in Digivaardig & Digibewust, a collaborative venture between industry and the Government to reduce the number of people with no or few digital skills, and to promote the responsible and safe use of digital resources.

The Gezinspakket eSafety package

The Gezinspakket eSafety package is directed toward the whole family and consists of two parts. One part contains extensive information for parents, who are normally well aware that they have an important task in guiding their children on how to use the Web. By means of the eSafety package, UPC and Digivaardig & Digibewust assist parents in allowing their children to surf the Web safely. The package enables parents to gain more information about their children’s internet behavior as well as the dangers young surfers could run into, and how they, as parents, could instill safe surfing habits in their children.

The other part consists of a workbook, specially directed toward children between the ages of six and twelve. By means of stickers, questions and exercises children effortlessly learn all about safe surfing. In the process they are given tips on the best way to present their online profile (information on their age and hobbies) and how to deal with online contacts with strangers, as well as the potential consequences of cyberbullying.

About Digivaardig & Digibewust

Digivaardig & Digibewust was founded in 2006 as a collaborative venture between industry and the Government, with the objective of reducing the number of people with no or hardly any digital skills, and to stimulate the responsible and safe use of digital media. This implies optimal use of digital resources and the new media (Internet, e-mail, cell phones etc.), while at the same time creating awareness of the possible dangers and risks involved, as well as the measures that could be taken against such risks. Digibewust is part of the European Insafe network. Additional information is available at www.digivaardigdigibewust.nl.

About UPC Nederland
Cable & media company UPC (www.upc.nl) is a leading provider of television, broadband internet and digital telephony services in the Netherlands. UPC Nederland provides more than two million subscribers with access to the world of television, 648,000 of whom are connected to digital television. UPC serves 682,500 broadband internet subscribers and, in addition, 572,400 digital telephony subscribers (figures as at December 31, 2008). The company is driven by the vision that everybody, regardless of available knowledge or skills, ought to have access to the amazing but complex world of digital information. UPC’s 15,000 staff in Europe endeavor to pursue this objective with simple solutions, in a humane manner.

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For additional information and toolkit image material, please contact

UPC Nederland

Ronald Sutmuller, Media Relations Manager

Tel.: 020 775 55 97

Cell phone: 06 28 90 48 02

E-mail: rsutmuller@upc.nl

Web: www.upc.nl / http://www.flickr.com/photos/upc/

Digivaardig & Digibewust

Joyce Martina

Tel: 070 4190 309

E-mail: joyce.martina@ecp.nl

Web: www.digivaardigdigibewust.nl