The dissertation research deals with defining the role of public libraries in the information and communication support of the e-governance system. The author of the research points out the need to involve a network of public libraries in the interaction of state and local authorities with individuals and legal entities.
In the introduction part of the study, the author substantiates the relevance of the research topic, presents the purpose and objectives, defines the object and subject of the topic under discussion, demonstrates the connection with scientific programmes, plans and themes, characterizes the research methods, determines the scientific novelty and practical significance, provides the information about testing and publications.
The first chapter of the work, which consists of three parts, provides the systematization and analysis of the main scientific works of experts in social communications, public administration, which became the basis for studying the theoretical and methodological foundations of the activities of public libraries aimed at information and communication support for e-governance. The source of the research is a set of documents directly related to the dissertation topic: legislative acts in the field of e-governance, librarianship, information activities; bylaws; public legal acts; regulatory documents; reference publications; electronic information resources.
Based on a thorough analysis of professional literature, the study outlines the content of the basic concepts of the research, and presents its definition of the concepts: "digital librarian", "public library in the e-governance".
The second chapter, which consists of four parts, analyses the best foreign practices of attracting libraries to e-governance and the possibility of their implementation in Ukraine; describes the main directions of library and information support for e-governance, defines the place and role of libraries in e-governance; examines electronic services, library resources, digital tools involved in the information and communication support for e-governance; demonstrates the content of library educational projects on electronic interaction between the government and citizens.
The comparative analysis has revealed that libraries have appropriate information resources in traditional and electronic formats, material and technical capabilities to become a platform as socio-communication institutions for the development of information infrastructure of e-governance, to join the development and implementation of various forms of information and communication interaction between government and society, public institutions, business.
The third chapter, which consists of two parts, specifies the main issues of information and communication e-governance support for public libraries in the social and legal context and proposes ways to solve them.
It has been found that the main stages of involving libraries to e-governance are: creating an appropriate regulatory framework; attracting additional financial and material resources; institutional, technical and technological modernization of libraries; building local networks and "a single window" for access to open data; improving the professional competence of library employees; providing library users with access to state information resources, a single virtual space for providing electronic services through the integration of information systems.
The research has revealed a number of issues that slow down the library and information support of e-governance: the lack of a proper legislative and regulatory framework, which requires a flexible response by library institutions to changes related to digitalization; insufficient funding of libraries, the obsolescence of the material and technical base (it is necessary to restore the systems of guaranteed budget financing of institutions and introduce effective mechanisms for receiving funds from alternative sources, which will contribute to the creation of a stable and proportional system of material support for the public library network); non-compliance of the staff capacity of libraries with modern requirements (each basic library should develop a targeted programme of continuous training, skills development, qualification requirements taking into account the current level of society's expectations of libraries as documentary and information structures; develop and improve the experience of cooperation of libraries in Ukraine and organize the exchange of experience at the interstate level).
The following issues require further attention: theoretical and practical provisions on the role of libraries in electronic interaction with legal entities and individuals, implementing e-services, etc.
Key words: public libraries, e-governance, information and communication management, information technology, digitalization, electronic services, digital literacy.
