Connecting Government, Libraries, and Communities: Information Behavior Theory and Information Intermediaries in the Design of the LibEGov Tool

As e-government grows in scope and complexity, an increasing number of e-government services have surpassed the digital access and literacy of many members of the public. Often referred to as the digitally excluded, these individuals seek information intermediaries – such as public libraries and other community anchor institutions – to bridge their information needs and e-government systems. In this paper, the authors describe the data - surveys, case studies, interviews, site visits, and usability and accessibility testing – used to analyze the needs of the public, libraries, and government agencies. The focus then shifts to the methods employed to develop an innovative online resource that supports these information intermediaries and partnerships. Finally, the roles of the online resource in facilitating information access for these information intermediaries are examined through the lens of the theory of information worlds to illuminate the broader implications for this work. These three sections demonstrate scholarship in action - data leading to innovation and wisdom.