Digital Libraries

Abstract

This paper explains what a digital library is and how it is designed to support access to digital contents and services. In a broad sense a digital library is simply an on-line system providing access to a wide variety of contents and services. Contents include virtually any kind of electronic material such as various kinds of electronic media (text, images, video, etc.), licensed databases of journals, articles and abstracts and description of physical collections. Digital Libraries offer different types of reference and referral services, instructional services, added value services and promotional services. The procedure of these services is varied but typically serves the same purpose as traditional library services.