  The paper deals with the integral equation approach to steady kinematic
dynamo models in finite domains based on Biot-Savart's law. The role of the
electric potential at the boundary is worked out explicitly. As an example, a
modified version of the simple spherical $\alpha$-effect dynamo model proposed
by Krause and Steenbeck is considered in which the $\alpha$-coefficient is no
longer constant but may vary with the radial coordinate. In particular, the
results for the original model are re-derived. Possible applications of this
integral equation approach for numerical simulations of dynamos in arbitrary
geometry and for an ''inverse dynamo theory'' are sketched.
