ICT in Libraries

Recent developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have characterized new ways of information generation, managing, and dissemination. The advancements in ICT with breakthrough in transient and permanent information storage technology have not only reduced the cost of infrastructure required for hosting digital libraries, but also demonstrated success in a wide variety of projects across the world. This chapter addresses and documents the emergence of digital technologies, the purpose and characteristics of digital libraries, and digitization policy. It also elaborates the process of digitization including the hardware and software requirements. This chapter also focuses on major digitization initiatives and the challenges of digitization.