E-Government:E-Government:Tips, Tools, and Best Tips, Tools, and Best

PracticesPractices

Florida State LibraryAugust 11, 2009

Nancy Fredericks Pasco County Library Systemnancyfredericks@pascolibraries.org

PCLS E-Government Logo

E-Government Act of E-Government Act of 20022002

E-Government DefinedE-Government Defined

Steps you can take nowSteps you can take now1. Extend computer usage time or dedicate 1. Extend computer usage time or dedicate

computers for computers for

e-government usee-government use

2. Limit e-government computers to specific sites or 2. Limit e-government computers to specific sites or provide staff supervisionprovide staff supervision

3. Provide basic computer skills training3. Provide basic computer skills training

Formal classes or self-directed-Formal classes or self-directed-

Video tutorialsVideo tutorials

Online tutorialsOnline tutorials

4. Identify federal, state, and local E-government websites for 4. Identify federal, state, and local E-government websites for

patrons to readily access- website, blog, bookmarks.patrons to readily access- website, blog, bookmarks.

5. Offer e-gov training to the public5. Offer e-gov training to the public

6. Provide a list of documents to 6. Provide a list of documents to bring when completing online bring when completing online forms:forms:

7. Relax library cell phone policies or have a telephone patrons can use

8. Provide business size card for 8. Provide business size card for recording user name and passwordrecording user name and password

9. Record e-gov statistics9. Record e-gov statistics

10. Provide a method for non-English speakers to 10. Provide a method for non-English speakers to receive assistancereceive assistance

11. Produce a list of answers to frequently asked E-11. Produce a list of answers to frequently asked E-government questionsgovernment questions

12. Staff Training12. Staff Training

Social Worker Skills Social Worker Skills Contact your human Contact your human resources department resources department or your county/city or your county/city social worker. social worker.

Contact community Contact community agencies and ask agencies and ask them to come to the them to come to the library and train stafflibrary and train staff

Partnerships for training and Partnerships for training and referralsreferrals

Contact your one-stop employment center

Department of Children & Families

Develop an e-government Develop an e-government policypolicy

RecommendationsRecommendations

• verbal and written disclaimers (especially as part of verbal and written disclaimers (especially as part of Internet user agreement – click through on all library Internet user agreement – click through on all library computers) computers)

• librarians not help users fill out forms that require co-librarians not help users fill out forms that require co-signatures (e.g. Florida family court forms that require signatures (e.g. Florida family court forms that require signatures by person who helps user fill out form - that signatures by person who helps user fill out form - that comes with a requirement to keep the forms for six years)comes with a requirement to keep the forms for six years)

• librarians not select forms for users - okay to help them librarians not select forms for users - okay to help them use an index of forms, but selection is up to user (per use an index of forms, but selection is up to user (per Florida Bar Association unauthorized practice of law dept)Florida Bar Association unauthorized practice of law dept)

• librarians not type in personal information, esp. social librarians not type in personal information, esp. social security numbers and passwordssecurity numbers and passwords

Create a blog or del.icio.us page for your Create a blog or del.icio.us page for your library for freelibrary for free

Tools for youTools for you

Using taxonomy and Using taxonomy and folksonomy to organize e-folksonomy to organize e-government informationgovernment information• Taxonomy-is the science of classification according to a pre-determined Taxonomy-is the science of classification according to a pre-determined

system, with the resulting catalog usedsystem, with the resulting catalog used to provide a conceptual framework to provide a conceptual framework for discussion, analysis, or information retrieval for discussion, analysis, or information retrieval

• Taxonomy developed based on e-government inquires at Pasco County Taxonomy developed based on e-government inquires at Pasco County libraries:libraries:

EducationEducation EmploymentEmployment Food StampsFood Stamps ImmigrationImmigration IncarcerationIncarceration MedicalMedical Pasco GovernmentPasco Government RecreationRecreation Social SecuritySocial Security Tax FormsTax Forms UnemploymentUnemployment VeteransVeterans

For more information, please For more information, please e-mail Nancy Fredericks at e-mail Nancy Fredericks at

nancyfredericks@pascolibraries.orgnancyfredericks@pascolibraries.org

The contents of this tutorial were developed under a Library The contents of this tutorial were developed under a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum

and Library Services, through the Department of State, Division of and Library Services, through the Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services. However, the contents do not Library and Information Services. However, the contents do not

necessarily represent the policy of the Department of State and you necessarily represent the policy of the Department of State and you should not assume endorsement by the State or Federal should not assume endorsement by the State or Federal

Government. Government.