Libraries are an ideal medium for fostering this community engagement. They train

people to use online resources, provide access to the technology for those who cannot

afford it at home, and foster projects that encourage online participation. Mel Usher of

IdeA asserts that, Winning the e revolution for local communities is about councils

using their unique community leadership role to help to fundamentally transform the

way public services are delivered and managed.

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If he is correct, then it follows that

public libraries with their unique role in the community have a major part to play in

that transformation. Public libraries have been described as the  shop window  of the

local council   you can look in and see what services the council offers. E government

invites the window shopper in to see its services openly accessible on the shelves, where

library staff is available to help the customer find what he or she is looking for.

Future

E democracy is the next step in engaging citizens in democratic government 

processes. It demonstrates how the Internet can be used to enhance democratic processes

and provide increased opportunities for individuals and communities to interact with

government. It comprises a range of Internet based activities that aim to strengthen

democratic processes and institutions, including government agencies. Some of these

activities include:

  providing accessible information resources online,

  conducting policy consultation online and 

  facilitating electronic input to policy development. 

The Internet is not inherently democratic, but it can be used for democratic purposes.

There is an increasing international interest in the potential of the Internet and other

technologies to strengthen participation in government decision making processes.

There are a number of community driven e democracy projects, one of the best known

being Minnesota E Democracy. This is a citizen based project in Minnesota with a 

mission to improve participation in democracy by using information networks. The

Queensland government has a commitment to broadcasting parliament sessions online,

presenting petitions online and increasing public participation in decision making. 

Public libraries can assist in this regard by promoting these services when they become

available, and by encouraging citizens to get involved.

Transactions

Paying taxes, fines, and charges as well as carrying out other transactions with local

authorities online is important, particularly for local government, as considerable 

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