The UK Society of Chief Librarians in a discussion paper concluded that:

There are many significant issues to resolve if library services are to contribute to the

building of an e council, but if we take a strategic holistic view and use a set of clear 

criteria that considers the wider authority, we should be able to create a vibrant tool for

local government that is available: 

  To use in public service delivery

  To build human capacity

  To tackle specific rural and urban problems

  To stimulate economic and social growth 

  To stimulate learning and retraining

  To develop new community projects

  To develop community government

Public libraries are popular, accessible, have traditionally been involved in life long

learning, have a national brand, have skills in managing information and are good value

for money. In the UK, it is said libraries are our street corner universities (New Library,

the People s Network). They should be leaders in the provision of e government.

What is e government?

E government represents the delivery of services, traditionally provided by national and

local government, via electronic means. It is analogous with e business, and just as all

functions of a business have a corporate role to play in the e business strategy of the

company, so do public libraries have a corporate role to play in e government strategy.

They also are instrumental in delivering the services electronically.

Generally e government aims to provide better services, improve relationships with

citizens and to achieve efficiency in internal performance. 

With e government, citizens are able to access government information and services

using channels that are convenient, easy to use and deliver what they are looking for.

Information and services are integrated, packaged and presented in a way that minimises

cost for both customers and government departments. New technologies enable easier

access to government information and processes, and citizens are better informed and

better able to participate in their communities.

E government means using the online environment to deliver:

  government information

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