The Access Indiana Information Network (AIIN), found at
AIIN went online in November 1995 after a committee was formed by the governor to help government implement and use more technology. This committee developed Access Indiana, an umbrella organization whose job was to implement several technology initiatives -- community networks, an aggregate government telecommunications backbone network, connections for schools and libraries, and the Information Network.
When launching AIIN, Indiana checked with users to see what they wanted. "If you build things and then just throw them out there, it's just like casting for fish when you don't know where the fish are or what they like to eat," explained Brad Bradley, AIIN's network general manager. "This is a more organized approach -- we want to study the fish and find out what they like to eat and where they like to hang out. We can be more effective that way."
Access Indiana also took the second critical step of marketing the site to its users. "Marketing is critical," said Bradley. "That is why the state wanted a private partner -- they wanted to take a market-driven approach instead of a government-driven approach that insisted that every little bit of government information be online. They wanted to start with the types of information that would be used the most and work from there." Users are directed to AIIN through booths at conventions and trade shows, public service announcements and largely through word of mouth.
The Subscription's the Thing
According to Bradley, there are two types of information on the site, commercially valuable data and content-value data. Content-value data is information such as that on the unclaimed property database or on the state parks home page -- people like to look at it, but it's not worth money to the state. The commercially valuable data is that which is found within Access Indiana's subscription area -- the motor vehicle registration database, the driver records database, the health-related license system, an automated bill-watching system, a database of titles and liens, manuals for attorneys' continuing education and archives of information for the utility industry.
AIIN's subscription areas are unusual in state and local government Web sites, and for Indiana, it has been a key in the site's success. Currently, AIIN's subscription area has around 1,000 subscribers who pay $50 per year for up to 10 users within an organization -- helping the site grow and keep its finances in the black.
The amount of use the site sees is a key indicator of its popularity and success. As of June, the site was receiving more than one million accesses per month, and was heading rapidly toward two million. The users are spread between the general public and business users, and pleasing both parties sometimes presents a challenge. "We like to look at graphics, but our business customers tell us that pictures slow them down," Bradley explained. "On the other hand, the general public likes graphics, since they're usually casually browsing. We have to build for both and find the happy medium. We slant certain applications or areas one way or the other based on the audience we
Improving the Business of Government
Another factor in the success of this site is the strong participation by agencies and departments throughout the state. Right now, 88 departments either have information available online or in progress, in addition to many features provided by AIIN's staff. Some of the more popular ones are the Department of Natural Resources, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Office of Legislative Services. The legislative session site, which is frequently updated, is also very popular. The departments provide the content, and Access Indiana provides the page design and the HTML.
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