Libraries are expected to be our e-government service

These days, if you want information about a government service or need to complete a form, chances are you’ll be told by recorded message that you can find it online. You may have a simple question and have wondered, “Can’t I just get a real person on the phone?”

While the Internet has provided a convenience for many, the shift to new technology has posed some difficult problems, especially for those without computers. It has also shifted the information burden to public libraries, but without the proper planning, training and funding.
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The national dilemma is reflected locally. Dawn Bostwick, executive director of the Nassau County Library System reports, “We have residents coming in daily asking for assistance with filling out, submitting and printing government forms. Frequently, we have problems with the Web sites themselves – we find incorrect information, cannot get a page to send or have other technical difficulties.”

Source: Jacksonville Times-Union

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 4th, 2007 and is filed under Access to Information, Libraries and Librarianship. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.