Electronic Publishing and Its Impact on the Field of Libraries and Information

Abstract

This article examines the impact of electronic publishing on the field of libraries and information amid the rapid development of information and communication technologies. The author explains that the shift from traditional media to digital media has contributed to transforming libraries into electronic or digital environments capable of producing, transmitting, storing, and retrieving information more efficiently. The article presents the advantages of electronic publishing, including reduced reliance on print publishing, faster document exchange, easier information updating, expanded storage capacity, and the creation of integrated and diverse databases. It also discusses the effect of this transformation on library services such as circulation, serials control, acquisition, reference services, current awareness, and selective dissemination of information. The article concludes that electronic publishing has brought about a fundamental change in library functions, moving them from the handling of paper-based information toward advanced information services that respond more effectively to users’ needs.