Google’s Creating A Leaflet. A Guide To The Internet. Seriously.

Guardian UK is reporting that Google is printing a leaflet, with the goal of getting more UK residents onto the Internet.

Yes, you read that right the first time.  Google is printing a flyer.

To set the record straight, Google is pushing toward the UK initiative of Race Online 2012.  The company realizes (according to a Google spokesperson) that “if you’re trying to get people who are not on the internet to be interested in the internet, then realistically you’re probably going to have to do something offline.”

More information, and a video from Race Online 2012 after the jump.

The flyers will be distributed through a variety of sources, including libraries and charities.  As far-fetched as it might seem, it’s not the first time that the tech giant has resorted to more traditional means.  Some of you might remember the launch of the Chrome browser, which was announced in a comic.

The leaflet will have a coexisting website for the initiative.  The site will further explain the thoughts behind Race Online 2012, and Google’s goals for it.  Such resources will likely be important, if Google and the UK government are to succeed.  Presently, over 10 million people in the UK have never been on the Internet, and some 4 million of those are educated adults.

The 2012 goal serves many purposes, not the least of which is money saving for the UK government.  According to Guardian, “a recent report by PwC estimated the economic benefit of getting everyone in the UK online is £22bn and government could save at least £900m a year in customer contact costs if all digitally excluded adults got online and made just one electronic contact per month”.