ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the economic, political, and social issues surrounding the move toward an electronic library. It examines the pros and cons of such a shift. The shift to electronic information will occur whether or not these issues are resolved, but these questions will definitely affect the speed and equity of the transition. Electronic library sources are most economical in terms of time and flexibility. These reference tools can be used remotely and searched by keyword, and consolidate many years of volumes. These features present significant advantages for users. The pressures for access and storage may not be resolved by the electronic library. Most librarians would argue that electronic services “supplement rather than replace traditional bound journals. At the same time, however, collection managers will need to be aware of the tradeoffs and be prepared to explain them to administrators who see moving toward the electronic library as a solution for budget woes.
