ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 8, Number 53
June 4, 1999

In this issue:

OITP Seeks Immediate Input on Library Readiness for Public Conduct 
of Electronic Transactions with Federal Government

The ALA Office for Information Technology is interested in hearing 
from libraries about the potential implications of proposed 
procedures and guidance to federal agencies issued by the Office 
of Management and Budget to implement the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act.

Under the GPEA, which took effect on October 21, 1998, agencies 
must generally provide for the optional use and acceptance of 
electronic documents and signatures, and electronic record keeping 
where practicable, by October 2003. The intent of this Act, 
supported by the Administration, is to increase the ability of 
citizens to interact with the federal government electronically.

By October 2003, persons who must maintain, submit, or disclose 
information to the federal government are to have the option of 
doing so electronically as a substitute for paper.  Agencies are 
to use electronic authentication (electronic signature) methods to 
verify the identity of the sender and the integrity of electronic 
content.  The proposed procedures and guidance for implementation 
were issued by OMB on March 5; comments are due by July 5.  

OMB assumes that some of these transactions may be between a 
member of the general public and a federal agency, that some of 
these transactions may be a one-time event, and that some of these 
transactions may have legal or financial implications.  The 
implication for libraries is that members of the public may expect 
to be able to conduct business with the government through 
computer work stations at libraries available to the public.

The OMB document raises issues of appropriate technologies, risk 
assessment, and analysis of costs and benefits.  OMB recognizes 
that: "The effects on the public and its needs and readiness to 
move to an electronic environment are important considerations."

ALA will comment on the possible impact on libraries of federal 
agencies moving more aggressively toward electronic transactions 
(following on the already pronounced move to provide federal 
government information electronically).  Here are a few of the 
questions on which the ALA OITP would appreciate input to better 
inform its comments.  

-> 1. How ready would public libraries be by October 2003 to 
accommodate users who wish to conduct electronic business 
transactions -- either with the government or with other 
businesses or entities?

-> 2. Are local or state governments moving in this direction?  If 
so, what has been the impact on libraries?

-> 3. Would libraries need to install specialized software to 
accommodate this new user demand for transactions involving 
electronic signatures?

-> 4. Would libraries need to upgrade their network and system 
security to accommodate the use of electronic signatures and 
transactions with legal and financial implications?

-> 5. Would libraries need additional telecommunications capacity 
and/or additional workstations to accommodate this new demand?

-> 6. What are the implications for staffing levels and training 
necessary for staff and the public?

-> 7. Are there other implications in this potential new and 
increased level of user expectations of libraries?

Librarians are encouraged to provide input on these and any other 
questions that occur to them.  Please send comments by Friday, 
June 11 to OITP Director Rick Weingarten at rww@alawash.org.

The proposed procedures and guidance were published by the Office 
of Management and Budget in the March 5 Federal Register (pp. 
10895-902), and are available at 
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-
bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=1999_register&docid=99-5409-filed  

The Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA, 44 USC 3504), P.L 
105-277, Title XVII, is available at 
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-
bin/useftp.cgi?IPaddress=wais.access.gpo.gov&filename=publ277.105&
directory=/diskb/wais/data/105_cong_public_laws

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ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, 
Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 
toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web 
site: http://www.ala.org/washoff.  Editor: Lynne E. Bradley; 
Managing Editor: Deirdre Herman; Contributors: Phyllis Albritton, 
Mary Costabile, Carol Henderson, Peter Kaplan, Claudette Tennant 
and Rick Weingarten.