Libraries play major role in bringing e-government to you
After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, area residents needed to submit forms to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for relief. The best way to submit these forms was online.
But in all the devastation, who had electricity, let alone a computer?
The Jefferson Parish Library, located opposite Orleans Parish, was able to rig up electricity and computers in a couple of locations. People from all over the area were welcomed and assisted in completing FEMA relief applications.
This partnership between a federal agency, FEMA, and a local agency, the Jefferson Parish Library, is a terrific example of e-government.
Closer to home, the town of Park Ridge and the Park Ridge Public Library have collaborated for many years in an effort to make government accessible 24/7, and easy to use, understand and promote transparency.
Janet Van De Carr, director of the Park Ridge Public Library said, "It all started in l995 with NorthStarNet. We had the opportunity to approach city officials with a proposal to put up a city Web site. As forward-looking city officials, they jumped at the chance for a Web presence in those early days of the Internet."
"Now many city processes are automated and available to residents anytime. For example I can read my own water meter and input the data. You can pay traffic tickets through the Web site. The building permit process is on the Web. Look up the rules, print out the forms, and follow the progress of your permit through to approval -- all on the Web. All city departments have a presence on the Web site. Minutes of meetings are available for reading. The city's newsletter is available electronically and announcements are posted on the front page of the Web site almost daily," Van De Carr said.
"More recently the city has involved us in disaster planning. We don't have the space to be a shelter site. But the city has recognized that we can serve a pivotal role as a communications site. For example, in the event of a disaster, the library would provide information on disaster recovery, needed forms, information and sources for cleanup supplies and access to the Internet," she said.
"We are also working with the city to promote citizen preparedness in the event of a disaster. Several years ago we held an information fair in cooperation with the fire department. We focused on what everyone can do to be ready for a disaster, recognizing that first responders won't reach everyone immediately. The information fair was very well received, and we plan to hold another one in the future".
The federal E-Government Act of 2002 promoted Internet and technology use to increase opportunities for citizen participation in government. In 2006, more than 3.9 million people filed their taxes online. Grants.gov is used by all governmental granting agencies, and GovBenefits.gov had 250,000 visitors per month in 2007.
The E-Government Act is obviously working and public libraries are making it happen. According to the Pubic Library Funding and Technology Access Study 2007-2008, providing access to government information is the third-highest use of public Internet service. Additionally, 74 percent of public library staffs provide as-needed assistance to patrons for understanding and using e-government services.
Getting into e-government is only one example of how library service is changing in response to the changing nature of daily life.
Unfortunately, these new services are expensive. Libraries need financial help both for retooling and for meeting these new demands.
Support your public library. Just imagine how grateful you would be for the library if it was the only place you could go to fill out your FEMA relief application.