Synopsis A library is a collection of information, sources, resources and services, organised for use, and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private individual. With the collection of media other than books for storing information, many libraries are now also repositories and access points for maps, prints or other documents and artworks on various storage media such as microfilm, microfiche, audio tapes, CDs, cassettes, video tapes and DVDs, and provide public facilities to access CDROM and subscription databases and the internet. Thus, modern libraries are increasingly being redefined as places to get unrestricted access to information in many formats and from many sources.

Providing a detailed account of the development strategies of public as well as academic libraries, this work will serve as a blueprint for building library holdings; explores the issues in developing digital libraries and addresses digital information preservation within the context of traditional library operations. It will be a valuable source of information for one and all connected with the profession of library and information science.