http://www.bl.uk/training_package/introduction.html.

Using a combination of video, images, text and web links the online tour guides users through the range of the British Library's services. Taking about three hours to complete, the tour has been designed so that it can be completed in small portions, enabling users to return to where they left off. A simple downloadable workbook has also been created to help users work through the tour.

Future plans include developing the tour so that it can also be used as a quick reference tool for people who have completed it and for library staff in other sectors including academia and business. A scheme to introduce a 'British Library Champion' in each library authority will be piloted in Yorkshire in 2005. These will be a source of advice and information on the British Library's services for their colleagues. A touring public exhibition showcasing the British Library's collections and local treasures will visit three pilot regions during 2005.

The training package was created by Sue Cook of Manchester Library and Information service*: she said "Early research showed that there was a need to raise awareness among public librarians about what the British Library had to offer them and their users. Piloting of the tour with librarians in Leeds and Derbyshire has been very successful, and I hope the training package will lead to greater use of our national library."

Stephanie Kenna, Manager of Regional and Library Programmes at the British Library, said: "The Library is constantly looking at ways to encourage greater use of its resources and make itself accessible and relevant to people across the UK. This tour is a wonderful contribution towards that aim, and it will be a quick and easy way for librarians to finds out what their national library has to offer their users."

Catherine Blanshard, Chair of the Society of Chief Librarians, said: "It would be impossible to take every librarian on a physical tour of the British Library, but without this insight local library users would be missing out on the real treasures housed there. This e learning package offers the next best thing. It is packed with information broken down into manageable chunks and the learner can really get inside the British Library and all its outlets. While many of us know a bit this packages opens up the British library in detail for the first time. It is a joy to work through the package and the real winners are local people in every library service up and down the land as they will have access to much better informed staff who can guide them to the nation's resources."

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Notes for editors:

The British Library is the national Library of the United Kingdom. It provides world class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world's largest and most comprehensive research collection. Further information is available on the Library's website.

*Sue Cook is now City-wide Services Manager, Manchester Library and Information Service. During the period that she developed the Public Library Training Package she was Agency Services Manager at Leeds Library and Information Service.