British Library makes good electronic progress: The British Library has been praised for its progress with electronic services, but it needs to become more user-friendly in some areas, according to a new report. The latest assessment by the National Audit Office (NAO) said that the Library was responding well to the opportunities and challenges posed by the electronic era and that it has made significant improvements to the organisation and to its services. The report praised the library's "document supply service," which allows users to request books by e-mail or order them on-line. The advent of digitised collections -- digital images of important collections -- was also welcomed. Still, the NAO cautioned the Library to "remain vigilant" in order to ensure that the benefits of electronic services can be sustained in the long term. The document supply service could be made more user-friendly, particularly in the area of catalogue searching, the report went on. While the Library's Web site has improved considerably over the last few years, some users still have problems with the layout and clarity of information, the NAO added.
EU maps out INSPIRE project: The European Commission is launching a project to improve geographical mapping information across the European Union. The INSPIRE (INfrastructure for SPatial InfoRmation in the European Union) initiative aims to establish a database to which all EU member states will contribute geographical information in a consistent format. The project is designed to support environmental protection policies as well as infrastructural and agricultural development. It is also anticipated that the database will lead to a faster response to natural disasters and more efficient meteorological services across the EU. "INSPIRE will harmonise geographical information in the EU, which will vastly help us to better plan, implement and monitor environmental measures," said Margot Wallstrom, European Environment Commissioner. "It will improve our capability to protect biodiversity, fight pollution and prevent floods and fires." Separately, Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin welcomed the announcement of the project, saying it would provide "a framework for translating research and development results into operational tools." More information on the INSPIRE project can be found here.
Oman ramps up e-government plans: The government of Oman has announced plans to step up the rollout of its e-government strategy, starting with the implementation of a converged communications network. The government's new voice and data network, to be put in place by telecoms firm Omantel, will be launched by November, reports on-line newspaper the Times of Oman. "Allowing and providing e-government services is an integral component of the Sultanate's Information Technology Strategy," Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, minister of national economy, told the Times. Macki also said that the government had issued a tender, to be awarded in September, for the provision of consultancy services to support the development of e-legislation. The minister also noted that the government was working on a number of other e-government initiatives, including setting up an e-tendering process, establishing a national registry for smart ID cards, and providing a "one-stop shop" for companies to register with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
US expert outlines recipe for e-democracy success: Boosting participation in government through the use of ICT could be as easy as sending people e-mail reminders of topics they are interested in, a US e-democracy expert has said. In an interview with on-line newswire Computerworld in New Zealand, Steven Clift, who runs a Web site dedicated to e-democracy called Publicus.Net, outlines a number of strategies for encouraging citizens to partake in on-line government. Clift advises governments to set up an "e-mail reminder database," whereby people can sign up to receive e-mail notifications whenever topics of interest to them are being considered. Communication via e-mail with government bodies can naturally evolve into on-line discussions among groups of people with shared interests, Clift explains. He goes on to point out that the focus of e-government is usually technical, with insufficient emphasis on using technology to get people more involved in government matters. "E-government typically starts off being seen as a technical project, all about keeping servers running and about security," says Clift. "This brings in the consultants, who see dollar signs in re-engineering government systems."
Polish city plans wireless broadband network: Network equipment maker Cisco Systems is helping the city of Slupsk in Poland to build a wireless broadband network to link up government institutions across the city. Cisco is donating telecoms equipment such as routers and access points, along with consulting expertise and financial support, to the project, which will connect up government offices, schools, hospitals, libraries and other institutions. "I believe this network will help us increase the efficiency of our administration and provide new services to citizens aimed at increasing social inclusion," said Maciej Kobylinski, mayor of Slupsk. "We hope it will attract new businesses to the city and boost our economy." Cisco is working with the Foundation of Economic Education in Warsaw on the initiative, which is part of a broader e-Society Initiative designed to demonstrate how affordable and widely available broadband can contribute to economic and social development in countries which have recently joined the European Union. "Local governments all over Europe are realising that broadband connectivity can help them improve the quality and reach of citizen services," said Jacek Murawski, director of Public Funding for Cisco in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Autor: Sylvia Leatham
Quelle: ElectricNews.Net, 04.08.2004
