Delivering e-government services and transforming communities through innovative partnerships: Public libraries, government agencies, and community organizations

Due to an increasing reliance on public libraries to deliver government services online, coupled with decreasing funding for public services, many public libraries have begun to collaborate with local government agencies and community organizations to provide vital services to their communities. Drawing upon findings made through an extensive literature review, site visits at a number of public libraries across the country, and interviews with state library staff, government officials, and community organization leaders, this paper highlights the e-government service roles of public libraries, the innovative partnerships between community groups, government agencies, and public libraries in the realm of e-government, and the impacts of these services and partnerships on communities.

[1]  J. Bertot,et al.  E-Government Education in Public Libraries: New Service Roles and Expanding Social Responsibilities , 2009 .

[2]  Wolfgang E. Ebbers,et al.  Electronic government: Rethinking channel management strategies , 2008, Gov. Inf. Q..

[3]  Amelia N. Gibson,et al.  Emerging Role of Public Librarians as E-Government Providers , 2009 .

[4]  Paul T. Jaeger,et al.  Public access computing and Internet access in public libraries: The role of public libraries in e-government and emergency situations , 2006, First Monday.

[5]  Paul T. Jaeger,et al.  User-centered e-government: Challenges and benefits for government Web sites , 2006, Gov. Inf. Q..

[6]  John A. Shuler,et al.  A new frontier for LIS programs: E-government education, library/government partnerships, and the preparation of future information professionals , 2012, Educ. Inf..

[7]  Nick Moore The Internet and the library , 2000 .

[8]  Paul T. Jaeger,et al.  Responsibility Rolls Down: Public Libraries and the Social and Policy Obligations of Ensuring Access to E-government and Government Information , 2011, Public Libr. Q..

[9]  P. Jaeger Disability and the Internet: Confronting a Digital Divide , 2011 .

[10]  Gregory Streib,et al.  Citizen Demand for Interactive E-Government , 2006 .

[11]  Paul T. Jaeger,et al.  The Looming Infrastructure Plateau? Space, Funding, Connection Speed, and the Ability of Public Libraries to meet the Demand for Free Internet Access , 2007, First Monday.

[12]  Lesley A. Langa,et al.  Drafted: I Want You to Deliver E-Government. , 2006 .

[13]  Paul T. Jaeger,et al.  Diversity and LIS Education: Inclusion and the Age of Information , 2011 .

[14]  John Carlo Bertot,et al.  The multiple dimensions of the digital divide: more than the technology 'haves' and 'have nots' , 2003, Government Information Quarterly.

[15]  Homa Naficy Centering Essential Immigrant Help on the Library Web site: The American Place (TAP) at Hartford Public Library , 2009, Public Libr. Q..

[16]  Sharon S. Dawes,et al.  Governance in the digital age: A research and action framework for an uncertain future , 2009, Gov. Inf. Q..

[17]  Paul T. Jaeger,et al.  The Intersection of Public Policy and Public Access: Digital Divides, Digital Literacy, Digital Inclusion, and Public Libraries , 2012, Public Libr. Q..

[18]  Paul T. Jaeger,et al.  Public Libraries, Values, Trust, and E-Government , 2007 .

[19]  Karen E. Fisher,et al.  eGovernment Services Use and Impact through Public Libraries: Preliminary Findings from a National Study of Public Access Computing in Public Libraries , 2010, 2010 43rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.

[20]  Paul T. Jaeger,et al.  The Impacts of Free Public Internet Access on Public Library Patrons and Communities , 2008, The Library Quarterly.

[21]  John Carlo Bertot,et al.  The E-Government paradox: Better customer service doesn't necessarily cost less , 2008, Gov. Inf. Q..

[22]  Paul T. Jaeger,et al.  The 2004 and 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes: Evolving Roles and Lessons Learned for Public Libraries in Disaster Preparedness and Community Services , 2006, Public Libr. Q..

[23]  Paul T. Jaeger,et al.  Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating User-centered and Citizen-centered E-government , 2010, Int. J. Electron. Gov. Res..

[24]  John Carlo Bertot Public Access Technologies in Public Libraries: Effects and Implications , 2009 .