Digital Libraries: Issues and Challenges

Abstract

This review discusses Digital Libraries: From Planning to Implementation, focusing on the practical, technical, and legal challenges involved in developing digital libraries in the age of the electronic book. The review emphasizes that a digital library is not merely the conversion of printed materials into electronic formats, but an integrated system that includes user interfaces, digital repositories, access mechanisms, search tools, cataloging, and policies for selecting and providing content. It highlights the book’s treatment of major challenges such as digitization costs, project funding, collection development, content selection, copyright, intellectual property, and digital rights management. The review also stresses the importance of digital library services and the need for them to be more interactive and flexible than traditional library services. It concludes that the book is a useful practical reference in the field of digital libraries, while noting the absence of a synthetic conclusion gathering its findings and recommendations.