E-government andpublic libraries in JapanDr Rowena Cullen
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Visiting Research Fellow, University of Tsukuba

Outline of presentation• What is e-government?
• E-government goals of Japanesegovernment• Role of public libraries in e-government• How to make this role more effective

What is e-government?
• Also known as: electronic government, digital
government, e-governance• How to define e-government?
“The use by government agencies ofInformation and communications technologies(ICTs) that have the ability to transform relations
with citizens, businesses, and other arms ofgovernment.”OECD definition of E-Government• The use of ICTs and the Internet as a tool toachieve better government• More about government than ‘e’• Guidelines for success include– Vision/political will
– Common frameworks/co-operation– Customer focus/responsibility– Online consultation– International co-operation (Muller)

Results Oriented(Management andGovernment to …

Oversight)
Productivity

Government
Business
Citizens and other individuals

Privacy
Effectiveness (Cost)
Efficiency (Cost)
Satisfaction
Security
Authentication &Local to national government,and international organizations

Integrity Management
Etc.

Governance(citizen engagement and participation)
E-Compliance
Procurement

Emergency Response

Service Delivery

E-GOVERNMENTInformation Access(inform and educate)

Hernon: Model of E-government

E-commerceStages of e-government(Layne and Lee)
• Catalogue– Online presence, catalogue, govt information online,
downloadable printable forms• Transaction– Services and forms completed online– Working database supporting online transactions• Vertical integration– local systems linked to higher level systems withinsimilar functionalities• Horizontal integration– systems integrated across different
functions/agencies, real ‘one-stop-shop’ for citizens

E-government in Japan• Began 1995 with Basic policy for the Promotion ofAdvanced Information and Communication Society, andIT Basic Law (2000)• E-Japan Priority Policy Program, 2001, updated yearly,
leading to e-Japan Priority Policy program 2004, e-Japan
Strategy II packages, and IT Policy Package 2005.
• Current plan: Priority Policy Program 2006
• From earliest days, the Prime Minister has overseen thee-government program, and chairs the ITHQ committeethat is responsible for the high level strategy

Changing focus . . .
• Movement from building ICT infrastructure (KWAN,LGWAN, Juki Net), to building content, ‘re-engineering’
government, to focus on service, and to encourage
citizen uptake• Current goals:– Increased use of online applications target: in 2007 16%transactions ; in 2010 50% or more)– Increased efficiency and rationalization of operations(optimization) - reduced operating costs, reduced time
– Further optimization of sharing, cooperation, collaboration
between government agencies– Security, reliability of systems

Local e-government goals(Regional Information Policy Office, Ministry of Internal
Affairs and Communications)• Improve user satisfaction (full access to services
24/7/365)• Promote administrative reform in local government tosimplify processes, boost efficiency, transparency• Growth boost for local information service industries(outsourcing to promote growth in local economy)

Examples of e-services already functioning• Okayama City – GIS/GPS environmental information/
disaster management; library book search; event
information.
• Yokosuka City – e-bidding; GIS system; library booksearch; facility reservation; event information; other eservices.
• Ikeda City – Maps and local trader information (withGPS); welfare support information; library new arrivalsearch.
(Fujita, Izawa, and Ishibashi)New target areas for local e-government(requiring personal identity authentication)• Prefectures - prefectural tax returns, vehicle tax, roadoccupancy permit, high pressure gas, chef licenses,
some activities of not-for-profit organisations• Municipalities – copies of residency cards, certificates ofseal registration, tax payment etc., municipal tax
returns, care insurance, child benefits, national healthinsurance, pharmaceutical retailing, water treatment tankRole of public libraries in e-government?
• Enhancement of own services alongside othergovernment agencies– to meet government goals and policies• Developing knowledge of e-government to support publicaccess, uptake- access to government information/services a key plank indemocracy• Sharing knowledge of www, database and information
management

Enhancement of own services alongsideother government agencies• Online services (e.g. access to catalogue, newacquisitions, email reference enquiries)– Considerable variation in service level apparent– Need to establish how many, what services, ensure all towns
have public library, web access to library services– How can we promote learning between libraries, mutual support,training?

Next stages (some public libraries inJapan already offer some of these):– Reserve book online– Web-based access to online information, businessinformation, and general databases– Online reference service (virtual reference)– Online instruction in information literacy– Develop web pages to enhance Internet search/links,
access to knowledge– Chat rooms, blogs

Enhancement, promotion of e-government,
contributing to Japan’s e-government goals•

Access to government information a key element in liberal
democracy•

Opportunity for public libraries to take on this role, e.g. establish
support service, to enhance citizen access to government
information (formerly only university libraries held government info)•Work with local government agencies to develop and integrate
services (community information, high quality web interface)•Develop expertise in staff to identify government
information/services for users, for general reference, businessinformation services

Use library information science expertise to improve online
library and local e-government expertise• Knowledge of web design, usability, metadata, WC3
standards (accessibility) etc. is key role for librarians in
the 21st century• These skills are critical to success/uptake of egovernment• Knowledge/research about evaluation in LIS sector also
very useful to e-government• How can we measure success in e-government? public
library contribution to e-government

Also record-keeping role . . .
• Who is keeping the archive of local government
information/business provided/transacted online?
• In most institutions, a ‘black hole’ exists at thebeginnings of the electronic era• What is your library doing to maintain its own recordkeeping in the switch to electronic records?
• What role should it play in the municipality or region - foraccountability, historical research, testimony etc.

Many roles for public libraries
in relation to e-government• Public libraries can assist in government campaign topromote use of e-government• Help ‘empower’ citizens, and promote democracy• Many training and development opportunities - for librarystaff, and for library staff to train local government staff

Some examples from New Zealand•

Christchurch City Libraries
http://library.christchurch.org.nz/
online reference, topics/events of interest, community information
database, pages for special groups (children, teens, Maori), online
databases, business startup support•

Auckland City Libraries
http://www.aucklandlibrary.co.nz/
digital library (e-books, e-journals, heritage materials, web sites),
community information, e-government (laws, and politicalinformation), quick reference tools, homework support, community
classes

The example of Yokusaka city,a leading e-government site in Japan(http://www.city.yokosuka.kanagawa.jp/)•

Advanced IT policy, focused on creating a city which is attractive toresidents, and economically strong•

On-line tendering for contracts (significant reduction in costs)•

Geographical information system (e.g. land management, watersupply, fire-fighting, disaster communication system, and city
information•

Cell phone access to city information – health, facilities booking,certificate of residency request, events, map location of facilities,
booking arts events, library search and reservation, school lunches)•E-democracy - surveys, response to questions/complaints,
Discussion Board

A training/research agenda for
public libraries in Japan•

What e-services are offered by Japan’s public libraries? What canbe done to enhance these? What should they be doing vis-à-vis theCity Hall?

•

How can we measure success in e-government? public library
contribution to e-government•

What are Japan’s public libraries doing to maintain their own recordkeeping in the switch to electronic records?

•What role should they play in their municipality or region - foraccountability, historical research, testimony etc.

•

What are the training and development opportunities - for librarystaff, and for library staff to train local government staff

References•Muller, Elizabeth. From E-government to E-governance: the OECDexperience. Casablanca, Morocco: OECD, 2004. Retrieved 24 Jan 07 from:http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/CAFRAD/UNPAN01
5841.pps•

Fujita, Masahiro, Takahiro Izawa, and Hiroki Ishibashi. The E-public
administration process in Japan, In Druke, Helmut (Ed.) Local Electronic
government: a Comparative Study. (London: Routledge, 2005)•Layne, K. and J. Lee "Developing fully functional e-government: A fourstage model." Government Information Quarterly 18, 2 (2001): 122-137.