Digital libraries: barriers or gateways to scholarly information?

Unprecedented desktop access to scholarly information has been made possible by the introduction of digital libraries. The powerful combination of digital publications, specialist and generalist databases, sophisticated search systems and portals enables scholars and students to rapidly examine a great variety of the literature in their own disciplines and those new to them. Access is available globally 24 hours a day without geographical limitation. But that access is not without limitations. It is limited by the availability of reliable and affordable information and communication technologies. It is limited to those scholars and students who are affiliated with organisations which have the money and skills to provide access. It is limited to those who are literate, information literate and have a command of the major languages of commerce and scholarship (English in particular). In addition, contractual and other bounds imposed by vendors exclude many potential users. This contradiction between the technical possibilities and the economic, educational and infrastructural limitations poses many challenges for libraries and especially technological university libraries. How can we ensure that our faculty and students will have the access they need to the world’s scientific, technological and other literature? How can we help them develop the skills to use that literature effectively? In answering these and other questions, libraries help advance the development of their societies and economies. ∗ Biographical note: Alex Byrne chairs the Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE http://www.faife.dk) and is a member of the Governing Board of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA http://www.ifla.org). He is the University Librarian and a Deputy Chair of the Academic Board at the University of Technology, Sydney in Australia where he can be contacted on Tel +61 2 9514 3332, Fax +61 2 9514 3331, [email protected].