Indispensable Institutions: Making a Case for Public Libraries as Local E-Government Service Admnistrators

While electronic access to government information is an expressed goal, implementation varies widely by locality, purpose and focus. Public libraries are uniquely situated to serve e-government administration by assembling and managing online collections of local electronic government records. Materials to be collected should reflect local and patron needs, be permitted by law and be accessible online. Libraries already provide internet access and reference support, and they are increasingly serving as intermediaries as agencies cut staffing as they move materials online. Libraries promote transparency, in strong demand by the public and necessary for citizen participation in the democratic process. Libraries are trusted institutions, and, supported by librarians' competencies, they enable access, digital preservation and support for online collections. Numerous public and private libraries serve as depositories of state and federal government records, providing access points for citizens to obtain information. With the foundation of skills, capabilities and precedents, it would not be difficult for public libraries to expand on their tradition of managing and supporting access to information to administer online collections of local government information.