Building communities online means ensuring access; networking communities and

businesses; offering communities online training; providing access for refugees; network 

ing youth groups; facilitating the Seniors Online program; and creating virtual villages. 

The number of transactions completed between August 2001 when the portal was

launched and 27 January 2002 was 3010. The total number of page impressions for the

same period was 673,582.

Key engagement feature:

BCC Library Services has been at the forefront of online service provision in 

Australian public libraries. A decision was made when the new library management 

system was implemented that all products and services would be mediated through 

eLibCat, the library s web catalogue. This decision has made it easy for

ourbrisbane.com to offer a content rich, value added product to their portal. Library

services have also been proactive in pushing for access to online information and 

obtaining funding to provide 200 public computers with Internet access in libraries. The

ongoing training of the community is another important role of the library. 

The library s website is located at 

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/community_facilities/libraries/index.shtml

Canberra   Australian Capital Territory

The Australian Capital Territory was proclaimed on 1 January 1911, exactly ten years

after the federation of the Australian colonies. It is an enclave of 2,358 square kilometres,

some 300 kilometres south of Sydney. Canberra, the national capital and Australia s

largest inland city with a population of about 313,000, occupies an urban area of some

250 square kilometres in the northern extremity of the Territory. While government

departments employ many people, more and more are involved in private sector 

occupations. Canberra has a cosmopolitan feel, because of its many embassies and high

commissions and, with two major universities, a substantial student population.

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