OVERVIEW OF SELECTED E-GOV ACTIVITIES IN FLORIDA

1. OVERVIEW OF SELECTEDE-GOV ACTIVITIES IN FLORIDA Charles R. McClure, PhD Director, Information Institute and Francis Eppes Professor cmcclure@lis.fsu.edu Bradley Wade Bishop, PhD Graduate Research Associate bwb06c@fsu.edu Presentation at FLA 2010 Annual Conference April 7, 2010 This program is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.

2. Background "E-Government Act of 2002 ... Defines 'electronic Government' (E-Government) as the use by Government of web-based Internet applications and other information technologies, combined with processes that implement these technologies, to: (1) enhance the access to and delivery of Government information and services; or (2) bring about improvements in Government operations." - from theE-Government Act of 2002

3. The E-Government Context • Public libraries already providing E-government services, workload likely to continue growing • Impact of E-government services on libraries • Public libraries provide • A central community location • Robust and reliable technology infrastructure • Technical know-how and the ability to navigate a range of information resources and services • Training and one-on-one assistance • Credibility

4. Public Libraries and E-Government • Nationally:* • Staff provide as-needed assistance to patrons for understanding how to access and use government websites, programs, and electronic forms (80.5%) • Staff provide assistance to patrons applying for or accessing E-government services (54.1%) • Staff provide immigrants with assistance in locating immigration-related services and information (32.1%; 52.7% urban libraries) *Data from Public Libraries Funding and Technology Access Study, funded by the American Library Association. September 2009. Available at http://www.ala.org/ala/research/initiatives/plftas/index.cfm

5. The National Broadband Plan Released March 2010: http://www.broadband.gov/plan/ • Congress should consider providing additional public funds to IMLS to improve connectivity, enhance hardware and train personnel of libraries and other Community-based organizations . • OMB consulting with IMLS should develop guidelines to ensure that librarians and CBOs have the training they need to help patrons use next-generation e-government applications.

6. Recent Institute Activities Selected Papers, Book Chapters, and Research Reports • Mandel, L. H., McClure, C. R., & Bishop, B. W. (in press). Assessing Florida public library broadband for E-government and emergency/disaster management services. In J.C. Bertot, C. R. McClure, & P. T. Jaeger, Public libraries and the Internet: Roles, perspectives, and implications. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. • McClure, C. R., Ryan, J., Mandel, L. H., Snead, J. T., & Bishop, B. W. (2009). Needs assessment of Florida public library E-government and emergency/disaster management broadband services. Tallahassee, FL: Information Use Management & Policy Institute, College of Communication & Information, Florida State University. • Bertot, J. C., Jaeger, P. T., Langa, L. A., & McClure, C. R. (2006). Public access computing and Internet access in public libraries: the role of public libraries in e-government and emergency situations. First Monday, 11(9), n.p. Retrieved April 21, 2009, from http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/1392/1310 • Bertot, J. C., Jaeger, P. T., Langa, L. A., & McClure, C. R. (2006). Drafted: I want you to deliver E-Government. Library Journal, 131(13), 34-37. Retrieved August 12, 2009, from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6359866.html • Bertot, J. C., Jaeger, P. T., & McClure, C. R. (2008). Citizen-centered E-Government services: Benefits, costs, and research needs. In S. A. Chun, M. Janssen, & J. R. Gil-Garcia (Eds.), Proceedings of the 9th annual International Digital Government Research Conference (pp. 137-141). Digital Government Society of North America. Retrieved June 15, 2009, from http://www.ii.fsu.edu/~cmcclure/publications/Citizencentered15March08.pdf

7. PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES 1. Status report on LSTA-funded E-gov projects in Florida 2. Discuss these projects and ask questions 3. Obtain input from participants about collecting data and evaluating impacts and outcomes of these projects 4. Suggest possible tools and ideas to better document the various Florida E-gov public library services and activities.

8. LSTA-funded E-gov Projects, 2009-2010 This program is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services. Alachua County Library District: 1. North Central Florida E-Government Services; and 2. Project and Partnership Branch Library and E-government Services Hialeah Public Libraries: 3. e-government e-mpowerment New River Public Library Cooperative: 4. Training, continued Orange County Library District: 5. The Right Service at the Right Time: Navigating E-Government Panhandle Public Library Cooperative System: 6. Mossy Pond E-Library Pasco County Library Cooperative: 7. E-Government Service in Public Libraries (with FSU Information Institute) 8. Pasco County E-Government Initiative Year 3

9. Alachua County Library District 1. North Central Florida E-Government Services • In 2008-2009, this project trained library staff and provided support for: • Columbia County Public Library, Suwannee River Regional Library (serving Hamilton, Madison and Suwannee Counties), New River Public Library Cooperative (serving Baker, Bradford and Union Counties), Three Rivers Regional Library System serving Dixie, Gilchrist and Lafayette Counties), Levy County Public Library System, Nassau County Public Library, Putnam County Library System and Flagler County Public Library. • An E-Government Project Team from the staff of the Alachua County Library District (ACLD) performed a needs assessment of the libraries. • After needs were assessed, team members trained 53 library staff in attendance at the 8 Library Systems. • This project purchased 27 laptops to be used as dedicated E-Government services points for patrons. • For fiscal year 2009-2010, the E-Government Services project was funded again to: • 1) Facilitate use of laptops • 2) See if additional laptops are needed • 3) Provide additional training This program is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.

10. Alachua County Library District 2. Project and Partnership Branch Library and E-government Services • A collaboration among ACLD, the Florida Department for Children and Families (DCF), its local lead agency, The Partnership for Strong Families (PSF), the Casey Family Program, and approximately 30 social service agencies working through PSF that resulted in a new facility. • The Library Partnership expanded the traditional library role ACLD provides in E-government services. By sharing space with service providers and having regular dialogue, ACLD staff and our social service partners provide coordinated and complementary services to meet a client's full needs. Many social service workers were unaware of the extent to which libraries provide this level of assistance. This program is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.

11. Hialeah Public Libraries 3. e-government e-mpowerment • This project provides technology and e-government training to residents of the City of Hialeah. • This project includes upgrade of Wi-Fi access in the main library (JFK) and expansion of wireless connectivity to two branches, the Curtiss and West e-Libraries, that serve the most heavily populated and impoverished areas of the City. • This project also provides laptops to make services available in separate and more discrete places within these three outlets. • The main library has been conducting bilingual e-government workshops in groups for several months. This program is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.

12. New River Public Library Cooperative 4. Training, continued • New River continues to train adults to use computers and assist with e-government and job skills needs.   • In year one, they purchased equipment, hired a teacher, and developed classes.  • Also, a mobile lab went to the libraries in our three counties and trained adults on basic computer use and e-government needs.  • In year two, they continue with basic computer training for adults, added some intermediate classes, and added Job Skills with Learning Express.  • Working with Alachua County, laptops were provided for e-gov use to each library.  • This project provided training on e-gov issues to all staff at a recent staff day.  This program is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.

13. Orange County Library District 5. The Right Service at the Right Time: Navigating E-Government • This project will build a tool through which a service consumer can answer a series of questions to create a profile that seeks key matches to available government and public services as well as library resources.  The tool will be called the “Service Seeker Discovery Engine” or SSDE.  • A taxonomy will be developed and provided in the interface. • The system will be built using Open Source tools and the source code will be freely available for review. • SSDE will be built for Orange County with an intent to expand statewide. This program is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.

14. Panhandle Public Library Cooperative System 6. Mossy Pond E-Library • This project results in the construction of the Mossy Pond Park Library that will provide E-Services that are anticipated to include overlapping components of workforce development, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Adult and Family literacy, Food Stamp and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, FEMA, Income Tax filing, Health Literacy, Social Networking, E-Government, E-Democracy, E-Commerce, and Distance Learning. • The facility will meet State of Florida criteria as a Hurricane Shelter and be the only building in the county that is certified as a Red Cross Shelter. • The facility will also be the only county facility that will jointly provide services of the Public Library, the Health Department, Healthy Start, the Sheriff’s Department, Voting precinct, and Department of Children and Families through on-site service provision and Internet Access. This program is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.

15. Pasco County Library Cooperative 7. E-Government Services in Public Libraries (FSU Information Institute) • Pasco County Library Cooperative (PCLC) and Florida State University’s Information Institute (Information Institute) will conduct the following tasks for the E-Government Services in Public Libraries Grant: • Develop a statewide E-government web portal • Evaluate Florida Public Library E-Government Programs • Expand E-Government Service Roles for Public Libraries • 1a. The E-government web portal development includes PCLC building the web portal; and • 1b. The Information Institute performing a needs assessment and conducting a usability/functionality/accessibility test. This program is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.

16. Pasco County Library Cooperative 7. E-Government Services in Public Libraries (with FSU Information Institute) • 2. The statewide evaluation strategy includes developing component indicators for individual projects and also evaluation of libraries E-Government efforts statewide. A draft of the proposed evaluation template is included at the end of this presentation. • 3. Librarians will be interviewed to discover current best practices and the feasibility of the service roles. This program is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.

17. Pasco County Library Cooperative 8. Pasco County E-Government Initiative Continuing Year 3 • This project focuses on getting Pasco County residents access to online government information and learning the skills necessary to effectively utilize these E-government services. • Assistance to residents will be provided by library public services staff in and through one-on-one appointments with the E-Government Services Manager. • PCLC will also offer E-government services and programs to the public in the library branches and at outreach locations and produce online multimedia tutorials. • PCLC developed E-government tutorials, blogs, and other tools, which can be accessed via the E-Government Tools page (http://pascolibraries.org/egovtools.shtml) This program is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.

18. Issues • Libraries DO NOT control Agency E-gov Initiatives, E-government applications and programs; • Libraries are under pressure to constantly upgrade, absorb, and provide service to E-gov systems that are out of their control or influence; • Stress and frustration with Florida’s financial crisis; • Liability concerns; • Government agencies DO NOT coordinate with libraries; • Training is needed for staff to increase familiarity with the various Agencies’ E-gov resources and services; and • Costs to continue to provide E-government services may increase.

19. Trends • Working with the State Library and Archives to continue to document Florida libraries’ roles in E- gov and create a statewide evaluation strategy; • Evaluation can justify the need for funds; • Develop a statewide E-gov web portal; • gethelpflorida.org • Share information at E-gov WG meetings; • Revise E-gov service roles for librarians; • Leverage knowledge/skills/services across state; and • E-gov services will INCREASE not DECREASE

20. Proposed evaluation template • A self reporting document might include: • Goals • Activities • Outcomes • Measures • Use statistics of selected services • What data are being collected? • Summary • Comments?

21. Alachua County Library District DAILY STATISTICS LOCATION: __________________ WEEK: _____________________ DATES: ____________________

22. Panhandle Public Library Cooperative System LSTA OUTCOMES PLAN Project Name:_ Mossy Pond E-Library__________ Library __Panhandle Public Library Cooperative System_ Project Summary / Program Purpose: The Mossy Pond E-Library project will provide Internet Access to address the service areas of E-Government and E-Commerce to the residents of Mossy Pond.

23. Discussion Questions • What other E-gov efforts are occurring? • What are the intended outcomes of these projects? • What data do you collect and what measures do you use related to E-gov services? • What E-gov data can your libraries feasibly collect (i.e., component/use indicators)? • What statewide E-gov use and related descriptive data should we have? This program is funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.

24. Thank You! Contact information Phone: (850) 645-5683 Fax: (850) 644-4522 Institute: http://www.ii.fsu.edu cmcclure@lis.fsu.edu bwb06c@fsu.edu