John Carlo Bertot Director and Professor Information Policy & Access Center College of Information Studies University of Maryland College Park [email protected]www.plinternetsurvey.org digitalinclusion.umd.edu Libraries and E-government: Foundations and Issues
19
Embed
Libraries and E-government: Foundations and Issues
An overview of libraries and e-government that covers the complex issues and related barriers facing public libraries with the growing expectation that the public will engage in e-government transactions. Presentation given at CTG's workshop on "The Role of Public Libraries in Enabling Open Government," May 7-8, 2014 in Alexandria, VA. Find out more at http://imls.ctg.albany.edu/.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
John Carlo BertotDirector and ProfessorInformation Policy & Access CenterCollege of Information StudiesUniversity of Maryland College [email protected] digitalinclusion.umd.edu
Libraries and E-government: Foundations and Issues
Background: E-Government & Public LibrariesGrowing expectation that the public will engage in e-government transactions but there are barriers to access:
Lack of access to computers and Internet
Lack of digital literacy skills
Lack of civics understanding
Accessibility and usability issues
Language and cultural barriers
Lack of trust
E-Government Roles and Services Overall
Staff provide assistance to patrons applying for or accessing e-government services
96.6%(n=12,609)
Staff provide as needed assistance to patrons for understanding how to access and use e-government Websites
91.8%(n=11,978)
Staff provide assistance to patrons for understanding government programs and services
50.0%(n=6,528)
Staff provide assistance to patrons for completing government forms
70.7%(n=9.232)
The library partnered with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and others to provide e-government services
30.9%(n=4,017)
What We Know
Insufficient staff
Insufficient staff expertise
Too few workstations
46.3%
27.9%
50.0%
48.3%
37.7%
34.2%
51.9%
48.3%
35.1%
49.8%
41.3%
37.2%
Challenges Affecting Ability of Public Libraries to Help Patrons Meet Employment Seeking
Needs
OverallRuralSuburbanUrban
What We Know
PATLiteraci
es
Basic Digital Informatio
n Civic
PACs/Devices
Broad-band
WiFi
Transactions
Email/PINs
Navigation
Information
Forms
Foundational
Enhanced
Instruction/Programs
Language GED Employmen
t Navigators Partnership
s
Transformational
End to end
Engagement
Hackathons
The E-government Context in Libraries
Hartford Public Library (CT)
Partnership with USCIS, local school district, and non-profit organizations
• Provides assistance with immigration process and beyond (e.g., passports, voter registration)
Alachua County Library District (FL)The Library Partnership: Public library 40 non-profit
organizations and local government agencies housed in one facility
◦ One stop resources for the community focused on social services related to child welfare