Introduction

This book aims to provide a snapshot of digital library development, highlighting issues of policy and practice in a wide range of related areas, and attempts to show how research has been developed for application in the workplace. The pace of development described in the following chapters clearly illustrates that the issues and challenges facing digital library developers change at a staggering pace. The value of this book is that it provides an overview of how we have arrived at the current position, a consideration of key policy issues that need to be addressed, an insight into the decision-making process of those who are working at ‘the coal face’ and a vision of future directions.