Developing Public Library Services for the Virtually Impaired in Delta State: Adaptive Technology to the Rescue

The paper examined the need to develop public libraries services for virtually impaired persons in Delta state. The relevance of adaptive technology in public libraries for these categories of persons cannot be underestimated.  Library and information services available to the visually impaired people through adaptive technology were discussed. Adaptive technology as a tool for enhancing public library services and the rationale for its use were also discussed. The researchers also highlighted the constraints facing public libraries in the use of these technologies in Delta state and Nigeria in general. Recognizing the potentials of adaptive technology, the paper concluded by pointing to the fact that what is needed is to ensure an all inclusive services to all irrespective of visibility. ICT and its related technologies in public library services should be embraced in all the branches of public libraries in Delta state. Library policy statement should be translated to reality, hence the library board should be well funded and given power to monitor the development of branch libraries. Key words: Developing, Public Library, Library Services, Virtually Impaired, Adaptive Technology and Rescu

INTEROPERABILITY PATTERNS IN DIGITAL PUBLIC SERVICES

Delivering public services in the most efficient way to businesses and citizens creates good prerequisites for increasing confidence in governance and enhancing e-Government. The main challenge is to invest in and capitalize on the capacity to integrate the information systems behind these services. This article presents an overview of the structure of public services in the Republic of Moldova in terms of information technologies and the degree of achievements in the interoperability of information systems. In this work are analysed some relevant models of information exchange between information systems of trade and service sectors

Rethinking Public Organizations as Knowledge-Oriented and Technology-Driven Organizations

Public organizations should rediscover the role of knowledge as a source for designing and implementing internal processes and adopt a knowledge management approach by using and managing technology as means and enabler for building a citizen-centered public management, sustaining democratic and civic values by promoting openness and fostering participation in order to encourage collaboration with citizens for co-producing public services and co-creating public value. Information and communication technologies are driving public organizations as responsive institutions in front of the citizens to proceed towards sustainability as a principle of governance for promoting the public interest and sustaining active citizenship, enhancing both collaboration and interaction between citizens and public administration. Introducing and actively implementing technology in government helps rethink public organizations as knowledge oriented and information based organizations seeking sustainability by involving citizens, businesses and other stakeholders for public value creation, enabling access to information, sustaining openness, transparency and accountability in order to engage citizens and encourage them to be included and actively participate in democratic public life, involving citizens to assume the responsibility for co-production of public services and fostering citizen participation in public policy choices. Technology opens up new opportunities for public organizations seeking sustainability by rediscovering knowledge as source and strategic asset following a knowledge management approach for designing and implementing democratic and administrative processes, redesigning the relationship with citizens, building public trust, encouraging citizen participation and sustaining co-production of public services

“NOBODY WINS, BUT NOBODY LOSES EITHER” – UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONAL LOGICS IN IT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are becoming increasingly important for the provision of public services. Therefore, public-private partnerships (PPP) have become a valuable alternative for implementing, maintaining, and modernizing public ICT infrastructures. However, information technology (IT) partnerships between public and private parties are difficult endeavours due to different organizational values and practices. We present the results of an exploratory, interpretive case study that analyzes one of the few working IT PPPs in Germany, and explain how the different parties interacted to succeed in establishing a working partnership. In particular, using institutional logics as meta-theoretical lens, we present a model that emerged from the data and explains the difficulties of public-private cooperation influencing the successful establishment of IT partnerships. Furthermore, we analyzed which management procedures are necessary for enhancing the understanding between public and private parties to build a joint partnership and enable IT PPP success

Analyzing Service Divide in Academic Libraries for Better Serving Disabled Patrons Using Assistive Technologies

Academic libraries invest thousands of dollars in assistive technologies (AT) for enhancing the delivery of information services to disabled patrons. However, offering AT might not result in their use by the patrons who need them, thereby leading to a service divide. The analysis of qualitative responses, including over 1,400 quotations, elicited from academic library administrators and librarians in 186 public universities across the United States, reveals that academic libraries encounter 51 challenges related to the knowledge and skills of librarians, hardware and software concerns, institutional factors, finances, and external actors, when serving disabled patrons with AT. Finally, the researchers propose 15 solutions for bridging this service divide

Prev Chronic Dis

The objective of this project was to obtain professionals' perceptions of system-level strategies with potential to increase use of clinical preventive services (CPS) among adults aged 50 years or older through community settings. Public health, aging services, and medical professionals participated in guided discussions and a modified Delphi process. Priority strategies, determined on the basis of a 70% or higher a priori agreement level, included enhancing community capacity; promoting the design of health information technologies to exchange data between clinical and community settings; promoting care coordination; broadening scope of practice; providing incentives to employers; and eliminating cost-sharing. Findings provide insights about preferences for system-level strategies that align with national and state initiatives to increase CPS use.20135U58DP002759-03/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States23578400PMC3625441719

Public Services 2.0: The Impact of Social Computing on Public Services

This report presents the findings of the study on "Public Services 2.0: The Impact of Social Computing on Public Services" conducted by TNO and DTI on behalf of IPTS from 2008 to 2009. The report gives an overview of the main trends of Social Computing, in the wider context of an evolving public sector, and in relation to relevant government trends and normative policy visions on future public services within and across EU Member States. It then provides an exhaustive literature review of research and practice in the area of Social Computing and identifies its key impact areas in the public sector. The report goes on to discuss four case studies of Social Computing-enabled communities in different areas: education (Connexions), health (Doctors.net.uk), inclusion (PatientsLikeMe) and governance (Wikileaks). This is followed by the findings of a scenario-building exercise in which two alternative scenarios were developed and related future opportunities and risks discussed. Additionally, the report presents the results of a cross-case analysis and an ad-hoc online survey which identifies the level of usage, the general characteristics and the key drivers of Social Computing for public services. The report concludes with a summary of research challenges and policy-relevant recommendations. Evidence from the study indicates that Social Computing technologies, applications and values have already been adopted in many areas of government activity. Social Computing affects several aspects of public service, related to both the front office (citizen-government relations) and the back office activities of public administrations. Social Computing is leading to new forms of ICT-enabled participation, capable of enhancing users¿ social awareness and involvement. Social Computing is also transforming relationships and ways of working within and between public sector organisations and opens the way to innovative service delivery mechanisms.JRC.J.4-Information Societ

Assessing the value of the information provision for enhancing the autonomy of mobility impaired users. Madrid pilot Site Study.

A City is the space where every person acquires the citizen condition, which demands access to multiple services and facilities, and develops social relations in a free and equal condition of options. A lack of accessibility limits independency and autonomy. Thus, the relationship between “sustainable development” and “accessibility for all” becomes clearer, and both goals reinforce each other. In this sense, information plays a key role in order to overcome existing barriers, specially for people who rarely use public transport, have impaired mobility, or make a particular journey for the first time. The impact and benefits is linked with public transport as a “facilitator” of mobility, and, in particular, for the aim of intermodality. The usefulness of information that should be provided (both the information itself and how is offered) to mobility impaired users (MI users) is discussed on this paper based on following of the ASK-IT project that has being carry out on Madrid. The work was done in close cooperation with representatives of all different types of MI user groups

Future prospects for personal security in travel by public transport

This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [grant number EP/I037032/1]. No other funding support from any other bodies was provided.Peer reviewedPublisher PD