People's Network Services

The People's Network provides public internet access through nearly 25,000 terminals in all 3500 public libraries in England. Thanks to a further grant from the Big Lottery Fund a suite of consumer-facing national public library services were launched in October 2005.

MLA has launched a range of national online service offers for the People's Network in England. These have been collaboratively produced in consultation with the public library community and are based around three core service areas of discovery, enquiry and reading.

You can find out more in the following ways:

• linking to the People's Network section of the MLA site
• trying out the services on the People's Network website
• visting the People's Network staff room pages on the PN website (crammed with lots of relevant information about each of the PN services for staff who work in the sector)

Procurement of electronic resources for English public libraries

Reference Online  is providing a testbed for developing good practice in the procurement of commercial electronic products and services. Agreements have now been brokered by MLA on behalf of public libraries in England with 22 suppliers for 50 online products and services.