Tuesday January 13th 2026
Photo by Christin Hume (Unsplash)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Sarah Hilley
More than 2,800 people in Glasgow got help online to fill out forms, access benefits and other tasks at the city libraries in 2025.
Residents received the support last year as it’s revealed that seven per cent of Glaswegians have no internet at home.
Glasgow Life runs the Assisted Digital programme in libraries and community hubs – helping people access services online including free school meals and council tax reduction.
The council’s digital strategy annual report said: “This means thousands of people who might otherwise struggle with online processes successfully accessed services digitally, with staff or volunteers walking them through it, then connecting them with local essential digital skills training, allowing them to self-serve in future.”
The report said a significant portion of Glaswegians had limited digital skills and seven per cent lacked internet access at home.
It said: “Many of those digitally excluded are older adults, people with disabilities, or low income households. This means some residents struggle to benefit from online services or the digital economy.”
Details of the assisted digital scheme are contained the city’s digital strategy annual report to be shared at the city administration committee next week.
The report said library computers or wi fi were used more than 400,000 times last year and laid out a number of ongoing actions to cut digital exclusion.
It said: “Over the past year, Glasgow expanded support for residents who are digitally excluded. In partnership with Glasgow Life and third-sector organisations, we provided free or low-cost devices, internet access, and training to those most in need.
It added: “On the ground, our libraries remained a vital resource, with over 400,000 usages of library computers or WiFi in 2025, and Glasgow Life’s network of trained Digi-Pal volunteers provided one-on-one assistance daily across the city’s 31 community libraries.”
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