Home | E-Government and Citizenship (Summary)
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SUMMARY

SCOPE
This guideline is intended to raise awareness of the value of libraries in promoting citizenship, supporting the democratic agenda and political participation.

POLICY ISSUES
There is abundant evidence in Europe of citizens' sense of remoteness from the decision-making process. This can manifest itself in apathy, confusion about governments, their institutions and policies at European and national level. There is concern regarding the falling numbers of people who vote in local, national and European elections. Much of this apparent lack of interest is found among the young and lower socio-economic groups in society.

There is also widespread recognition of the need to offer alternative ways in which citizens may contribute positively to governance and government and to see the benefits of doing so, articulated strongly in the European Commission's White Paper on Governance and the Laeken Declaration of December 2001. 

The eEurope Action plan places emphasis on using ISTs to deliver better and more representative forms of governance and highlights the need to ensure access to on-line public services as well as to public buildings. But preventing exclusion from e-Government is only one aspect of the issue. On-line provision can also raise the quality of the public service and its content and make it more attractive for disadvantaged people, promoting social inclusion.

Public libraries have always championed intellectual freedom and the right of free access to information. They are already extending themselves beyond this traditional role. The concept of libraries being community centres as well as repositories of community memory is a reality in many countries. As key access institutions, public libraries can and should be centrally involved in local social partnerships and initiatives to develop and deliver new IST-based services in support of democratic participation: 

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINES
Public libraries should develop their existing position to:

• act as access points for e-government, and electronic voting through Internet provision and guidance; 

• support citizen participation in new forms of governance via exhibition programmes, interactive computer services and discussion/debate;

• provide access to local and national government information, schemes and plans;

• prepare members of their communities to contribute to decision-making through consultation, the provision of quality information and adaptation of new technologies;

• provide space and support for e-government related activities.

FUTURE AGENDA
In future online access and e-government will be personalised and organised according to demand profiles, rather than according to service supply structures. Public libraries will need to respond to this agenda by assisting in the development of IST-based systems for personalised access within the overall framework of local government. 

Home | E-Government and Citizenship (Summary)
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