The co-evolution of e-government and public libraries: Technologies, access, education, and partnerships

Submitted by mlb78 on Fri, 09/16/2016 - 17:24
TitleThe co-evolution of e-government and public libraries: Technologies, access, education, and partnerships
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsJaeger, T. Paul, Greene, Natalie N., Bertot, John Carlo, Perkins, Natalie, and Wahl, Emily
JournalLibrary and Information Science Research
Volume34
Issue4
Pagination271-281
ISSN Number07408188
Accession Number79561003
Keywordsuniversal accessibility
AbstractWhile many studies have discussed the impacts of electronic government (e-government) on public libraries, little research has considered the extent to which the current federal government's implementation of e-government relies on the public technology access, training, and support provided by public libraries. A range of data and policy materials are drawn upon in order to illuminate the co-evolution of public libraries and e-government. Beginning with a discussion of the development of e-government and its impacts in public libraries, the access, goals, and challenges of e-government are detailed as they relate to libraries, and the areas in which current implementations of e-government would not be possible without public libraries. Based on the explorations of the co-evolution of e-government and public libraries, key policy issues are offered that require reconceptualization in order to better support the interrelationship between e-government and public libraries. ?? 2012 Elsevier Inc.
NotesThe data of the survey relied on The Public Library Funding and Technology Access Survey conducted for the American Library Association (ALA) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In addition, eight sites were studied and fifteen interviews with agency, library, and state library staff were conducted. The websites dispersed across the U.S. and the libraries included a variety of website types across different metropolitan status, operating budget, library staff full-time-equivalents, and public access technology infrastructure, and a diversity of levels of e-government servision. The study found there was a clear relationship between e-government provision and public library's provision of Internet access. The accessibility of e-government websites for all members of the society was made possible only when public libraries provide free public Internet access.
URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2012.06.003
DOI10.1016/j.lisr.2012.06.003