E-Government and Libraries: Could New Law Be on the Horizon?

-- Library Journal, 2/20/2007

An embryonic initiative may produce federal funds to help public libraries provide access to e-government. The library role in e-government was highlighted in a breakthrough report last year by researchers at Florida State University’s Information Institute. A follow-up discussion draft report, E-Government and Public Libraries: Current Status, Meeting Report, Findings, and Next Steps, based in part on a December 2006 meeting involving a variety of library stakeholders, offers ideas and recommendations, notably a preliminary version of a new federal bill that would provide formal and fiscal support for public libraries’ roles in disaster assistance and helping with online forms like taxes and Medicare.

One suggested goal of the “Enhanced Citizen Access to E-Government Information Act of 2007,” an amendment to the E-Government Act of 2002, would be to “establish a nationwide network of public libraries that are specifically designated as national E-government Information and Service Centers (EGISC).” Such EGISCs would receive assistance to obtain adequate bandwidth and Internet connectivity, to obtain hardware and software, to obtain training to provide such services, and to help train citizens in how to access and use E-government information and services. The American Library Association (ALA) Council, at the Midwinter Meeting last month, adopted a resolution supporting the role of libraries in providing E-Government and emergency services.

The question, however, is how to get federal support. Information Institute Director Charles McClure told LJ that, in conjunction with the ALA Washington Office and other library groups, interested parties are talking about what services would be specified, which is preliminary to a proposed budget. He said that legislation might be proposed later this year. Meanwhile, he said that the Information Institute is seeking a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to develop strategies to better link state and federal agencies with public libraries. “We’re not saying that all public libraries should do this,” he noted of e-government. “A number of public libraries see this as one more burden. Others see it as a way to do public advocacy.”