Annual meeting of the Florida Library Association

On April 24, 2008, at the annual meeting of the Florida Library Association, Associate Director John Bertot and Research Associate Amelia Gibson delivered a presentation about E-Government service in Florida’s public libraries.

The presentation, entitled "Public Libraries and E-Government: Practice, Strategies, and Future" included preliminary results of the recent Public Libraries and E-Government survey the Institute conducted in eight library systems across the state of Florida. The presentation also included other library E-Government initiatives the Institute is currently undertaking (http://www.libraryegov.org/).

Bertot said that "The session demonstrated the significant contributions that public libraries make in supporting federal, state, and local e-government initiatives. Libraries support agencies, help users complete forms, provide important technology and information services, and serve as public access points to open government."

Bertot and Gibson’s presentation was the first of a three-part session on current issues in library E-Government service. Michelle Howard and Kevin Griffith from the Pasco County Library System delivered the second part of the presentation on Pasco’s current efforts in E-Government service, highlighting best practices and offering resources to help librarians provide services. Charlie Parker, President of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium, wrapped up the presentation with an open discussion about the effect patron and legislative expectations of E-Government service provisions in libraries have had on library systems statewide.

View a copy of the presentation. Pasco County's E-Government del.icio.us site can be found at http://del.icio.us/PCLSLibrarian, and the Pasco YouTube channel can be found at http://www.youtube.com/pclsegov.

For more information, please contact Dr. John Bertot.