made available for the community to create their own pages about the area, groups, 

businesses, etc., and distance learning packages will also be linked up to enable people to

extend their lifelong learning opportunities. Leeds uses this element of the website together

with a broad skills based program to work with the public (as groups and individually)

to build IT skills as well as to get people involved in designing the site to make it truly 

relevant. It is hoped that as this progresses, it will be introduced into Leisure Services.

Catherine Blanchard, the Chief Librarian, says that to her,  e government means

exploiting all forms of technology to make both local and national government services

available electronically. The objective is to increase participation, involvement and inter 

action. 

The library service in Leeds provides public access to electronic services via the 

Internet and other PC services. To encourage use, the service is running fun based 

training programs on the local community websites. The library service is also 

responsible for the council website, which will provide the Internet access platform.

The council has examined the access issue and is currently considering broadening

libraries to second tier, one stop centres, which will extend the role of libraries in 

e government.

The Chief Librarian is on E.Council, the main e government decision making board

for the council, and Leeds Connected, the board for the city. She took on this role partly

as a result of her previous experience in Hertfordshire and her very clear and determined

commitment to information management. She believes strongly that libraries can offer

the training needed to get people interested in e government.

Key factors for Leeds include:

  funding for Peoples Network,

  new ICT as a result,

  innovative training program,

  libraries very close to the community,

  management of website.

Ms. Blanchard believes that her department's determination to deliver is the major 

contribution to its success.

E government in Leeds manifests itself in the following ways: 

  Significant information on the website. Very shortly, a Web OPAC including 

reservations and renewals will be introduced.

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